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INZAI CITY, Japan — The gamers who left to compete within the Saudi-funded LIV Golf collection needs to be entitled to earn rating factors, former Masters champion Hideki Matsuyama mentioned Tuesday.
Talking on the Zozo Championship, which opens Thursday, Matsuyama known as the ranking-points query “tough” and did not provide any particulars, options or clarifications.
“I believe they need to have the ability to,” he mentioned, talking in Japanese. “Nonetheless, there is a process they’re going to need to observe.”
LIV Golf is funded by Saudi Arabia’s sovereign wealth fund. Matsuyama advised he was staying with the PGA Tour.
“I am a member of the PGA Tour,” Matsuyama mentioned. “The gamers who left did so as a result of they thought it was the appropriate factor to do. So I am unable to say something about them.”
Viktor Hovland additionally mentioned LIV gamers should not get an automated exemption for rating factors.
“If you wish to get world rating factors, you clearly need to observe the method,” the Norwegian mentioned. “And I believe they’re clearly making an effort to get these factors, however I do not assume it is proper to present them an exemption to only get factors in a single day. They clearly need to observe the method, regardless of the course of is likely to be.”
Matsuyama gained final yr’s Zozo Championship – the one PGA Tour occasion in Japan – with a final-round 65 for a five-shot victory over Brendan Steele on the Accordia Golf Narashino Nation Membership, the identical venue for this yr.
He’ll be the native favourite on the course situated about an hour exterior Tokyo. The purse is $11 million.
“The vitality that the followers present actually helps out, it helps my sport,” Matsuyama mentioned. “However however, there’s strain that goes together with it.”
Xander Schauffele could also be below extra strain than Matsuyama, and likewise could have his personal Japan-related following.
The American’s mom has roots in Taiwan however grew up in Japan. He mentioned his spouse, Maya, was born in Japan’s southern island of Okinawa, and her mom is from a small island off the Okinawa coast – Miyakojima.
He mentioned he has a pre-tournament meal within the Tokyo space deliberate with a few of his prolonged household in Japan.
“I believe there’s going to be in all probability roughly 30 of us is what I’ve heard. It will likely be good to see all my grandparents, my uncles, aunts and my cousins,” he mentioned.
Schauffele was requested exactly what number of he anticipated for dinner.
“As many as I can get out,” he mentioned.
After the match, he is heading to the Okinawa space for one more household occasion along with his “spouse’s grandparents.”
“I’ve by no means met them,” he mentioned, “so I am very excited to go and spend a pair nights.”
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