Srixon Staffer Hideki Matsuyama Makes More History With Z-STAR XV

(HUNTINGTON BEACH, CA) – Srixon and Cleveland Golf are proud to congratulate staffer Hideki Matsuyama for his record-breaking playoff victory over the weekend at the PGA TOUR Waste Management Phoenix Open in Arizona. Matsuyama sank a birdie putt on the par-4 17th hole, the fourth extra hole, to clinch a sudden-death win at TPC Scottsdale for the second-consecutive year – this coming after he posted a bogey-free, 5-under-par 66 in the final round to finish regulation at 17-under par. The 24-year-old Matsuyama took the best that the competition, his own nerves, and the largest, loudest crowd on the PGA TOUR could offer him, and he overcame it all to capture his fifth win in his last nine global starts.

“It’s been a good run. I’m going to ride it as long as I can,” said Matsuyama. “The results have been really good these last few months, and hopefully we can just keep it going.”

On every shot, Matsuyama trusted the exceptional distance and tour-validated performance of the new, fifth-generation Srixon Z-STAR XV golf ball. Featuring a redesigned Dual Energetic Gradient Growth core with a larger, softer inner core, the Z-STAR XV generates consistently high ball speed on full shots and enhances greenside spin control with the new Spin Skin coating. Matsuyama, who uses a set of new Srixon Z 965 irons (4-PW), led the field in Strokes Gained: Approach to the Green (8.42) and also finished tied for second in Greens in Regulation (58/72, 80.56%).

With this victory, Matsuyama, who stands No. 5 in the Official World Golf Rankings, takes home a $1,206,000 winner’s check and moves back into first place in the PGA TOUR FedEx Cup points standings. Now with four career official TOUR titles (three coming via playoff, a format in which he is undefeated) he holds more all-time wins on the circuit than any other native of Japan and is also the first Japanese player to ever successfully defend a PGA TOUR championship.

In Hideki Matsuyama’s Bag:
· NEW Srixon Z-STAR XV golf ball
· NEW Srixon Z 965 irons (4-PW) with True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue S400 shafts
· Cleveland Golf 588 RTX 2.0 Precision Forged wedges (52°, 56°, 60°) with True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue S400 shafts
· Srixon staff bag, glove and apparel