Legendary golf commentator slams Hideki Matsuyama cheating claims

Legendary golf commentator Jim Nantz had a few words for the internet rules sleuths who thought Hideki Matsuyama was up to no good during the final round of the Genesis Invitational. 

The Japanese golfer began the final day of Tiger Woods' PGA Tour event six strokes behind 54-hole leader Patrick Cantlay. 

Matsuyama then grabbed the lead outright with a birdie at Riviera Country Club's par-5 17th hole.

The 2021 Masters champion set up the birdie with a deft chip by the side of the green. 

As he was addressing his golf ball, there were some who believed Matsuyama's Srixon Z-Star XV had clearly moved.

Clearly thinking a rules issue was going to explode, the CBS broadcast team brought in rules analyst Mark Dusbabek. 

Here was the full exchange:

Nantz:

Dusbabek: 

Nantz ended the exchange by saying: "Go find somebody else to pick on!"

Watch:

"The ball just shifted a little bit but it stayed in its same position. The ball has to move to a different position."



Rules and Review Analyst Mark Dusbabek on Hideki's chip on 17. pic.twitter.com/QeTQaSpaKQ

— Golf on CBS ⛳ (@GolfonCBS) February 18, 2024

This was not the first time the couch sleuths have attempted to spoil a player's victory this year. 

Earlier in the season, some suggested Frenchman Matthieu Pavon pushed down the grass by his ball at the Farmers Insurance Open. 

That was before he played an incredible shot at the 72nd hole at Torrey Pines' south course to set up a winning birdie putt. 

Nothing came of that either. Read more about that here. 

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• PGA Tour fans blast Patrick Cantlay and Xander Schauffele