Vintage Hideki

Presidents Cup 2022: Hideki Matsuyama went full Hideki on his reaction to this perfect tee shot at Quail Hollow

September 22, 2022

It’s been a tough start to the Presidents Cup for the International side on Day 1. It took the heavy underdogs almost two hours to card two birdies as the U.S. jumped out to leads in all five foursomes matches on Thursday.

The veteran duo of Hideki Matsuyama and Adam Scott fell behind by four after seven holes against the American wagon of Xander Schauffele and Patrick Cantlay. There was a rare moment of optimism for the Hideki/Scott side at the par-3 10th hole when Hideki stuck his tee shot to six feet. Of course, you wouldn’t have known it by Hideki’s reaction.

You’d think we’d be used to Hideki’s overreactions at this point. The Japanese star will routinely appear displeased by iron shots that end up 10 feet from the hole. Thursday at Quail Hollow’s 10th hole was no different, as Hideki’s approach ended up six feet away from the pin.

Hideki's overreactions are so notable, content provider Skratch TV has multiple compilations of Hideki's misleading body language in the past:

No Laying Up captured Hideki's emotions perfectly at the 10th hole on Thursday.

Unfortunately for captain Trevor Immelman's squad, Scott missed the six-footer for birdie, thus losing an opportunity to trim the American lead to just two (the Internationals also won the eighth hole). Alas, the Americans still hold a lead in every match as of this writing. The rout is on.

Quail Hollow Club
Private
Quail Hollow Club
Charlotte, NC
Few golf course projects had more national attention in recent years than Quail Hollow, mainly because its front nine was redesigned just a year before it hosted the 2017 PGA Championship, won by Justin Thomas. The par-4 first and par-3 second holes were completely torn up, replaced by a new long dogleg-right par-4 opening hole. Several acres of pines to the left of the fifth tee were removed to make room for a new par-3 fourth. (With its knobby green fronted by three traps, it proved to be the most frustrating hole for pros in the 2017 PGA.) More pines were removed to the left of the par-4 11th, replaced by bunkers, and even more trees chopped down on a hill left of the par-4 18th to make room for money-making hospitality boxes. There’s no question that this latest remodeling, rushed though it was, improved the course. The course was also rerouted for the 2022 Presidents Cup.
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