Matsuyama's Star Rising...Without A Swing Coach!

Sean Martin of PGATour.com asks some great questions of Hideki Matsuyama, rising star, Asia-Pacific Amateur past champion, current Memorial Tournament defender, and just 22. And still too slow on the course (at least based on last weekend's Hyundai TOC).

One of the best swings on the PGA Tour is refreshingly doing it on his own.

PGATOUR.COM: You're one of the best ballstrikers on TOUR (Matsuyama was sixth in strokes gained-tee-to-green in 2013-14). Do you have a swing coach?

MATSUYAMA: No. I do it myself.

PGATOUR.COM: What are the benefits of teaching yourself?

MATSUYAMA: I’ve always liked to find out things for myself and to have that freedom to search out and try different things and see what works best for me, rather than have someone tell me what is best for me. So far, not having a full-time coach has been an interesting journey.

It’s been good for me. But I’m sure in the future, there will be a time when I need a coach and I look forward to talking to different coaches and finding one who sees the game and my swing the same way I do.
PGATOUR.COM: How do you learn about the swing? Do you read about the swing or watch videos, or watch players on the range?

MATSUYAMA: I use videos of my own swing and check them daily.

PGATOUR.COM: Is there a favorite swing you try to emulate?

MATSUYAMA: Every one of the players out here has great swings and has their own strengths, but for me, Tiger has always been the example that I have tried to follow and emulate, the way that he swings the golf club.

I'm curious which swing iteration of Tiger's that would be?

Matsuyama goes on to talk about the role the Asia Pacific Amateur played in launching his career and his desire to win the Masters.