Renowned golf coach drops hilarious Hideki Matsuyama tale: "Don't think he found that very funny"
Former PGA Tour player and renowned putting coach Brad Faxon has shared a story that Hideki Matusyama didn't find particularly amusing.
Renowned putting coach and former PGA Tour player Brad Faxon has revealed Hideki Matsuyama approached him for a putting lesson 54 holes in to the FedEx St. Jude Championship.
Matsuyama claimed his 10th Tour victory at the first leg of the 2024 FedExCup playoffs last week.
The Japanese golfer ended up making hard work of it, despite having a five-shot lead heading into the final round at TPC Southwind.
He was involved in a rules controversy - which he later dismissed - and also suffered a mini collapse with some errant shots.
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One of Matsuyama's weaknesses has always been his putting, but last week he was sensational on the greens.
According to PGA Tour stats guru Justin Ray, Matsuyama entered the week having only made seven putts from 213 attempts outside of 25 feet.
He made five out of 15 attempts from that distance after 54 holes.
Across the week, he recorded his best performance on the greens, gaining as many as 8.201 strokes against the field.
That being said, Matsuyama still approached Faxon for some advice with 18 holes left.
"I asked to take a look at his putter [on the practice putting green]," Faxon told SiriusXM PGA Tour Radio.
"And then, honest to God, Hideki goes, ‘Can I have a putting lesson?' I started laughing.
"I said, 'Hideki, you're leading by five, putting first on the Tour this week, I want a putting lesson from you' and I don't think he found that very funny.
"Bob Turner [Matsuyama's interpreter] came up and said he's serious, he wants to know what you like about his putting.
"I'm thinking, boy, this is a bad situation to be in right here. How can I dare say anything?"
Faxon said he was nervous watching Matsuyama's mini collapse.
The former Masters champion dropped four shots in the space of four holes which opened the door for Xander Schauffele and Viktor Hovland.
But Matsuyama held on.
"I was on edge," Faxon added. "Particularly on the back nine."
Matsuyama's victory saw him take a huge jump in the FedExCup standings.
He will be in action again later this week at the BMW Championship in Colorado.
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