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2021 Sony Open in Hawaii
US PGA Tour
Waialae Country Club
Honolulu, Hawaii
14-17 January 2021
Hideki Matsuyama will be looking to emulate Isao Aoki at the
2021 Sony Open in Hawaii.
Aoki remains the only Japanese golfer to win this tournament having clinched it in 1983 and he was also the first Asian to win it.
His compatriot Matsuyama is one of the big-name golfers, who will compete in this year's Sony Open in Hawaii.
Matsuyama, who hails from Ehime, is a five-time PGA Tour winner and an eight-time Japan Golf Tour winner.
The 28-year-old became the world number two-ranked player on the Official World Golf Ranking after his runner-up finish at the 2017 US. Open.
Matsuyama earned his first PGA Tour win at the 2014 Memorial Tournament, beating Kevin Na in a playoff and moving to a career-high OWGR ranking of 13th.
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Since then he has clinched 2016 Waste Management Phoenix Open, 2016 WGC-HSBC Champions, 2017 Waste Management Phoenix Open and 2017 WGC-Bridgestone Invitational.
Image copyright: Getty Images
Matsuyama is yet to win a PGA Tour competition since he lifted the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational and he will be determined to clinch the Sony Open in Hawaii.
Former world number one Rory McIlroy praised Matsuyama as an aggressive and diligent player.
“He is a very hard worker and anytime you are on the practice range he always seems to always be there," McIlroy said.
"And it is the same scenario when you are on the practice putting green. He is very diligent around his practice as he works very hard at it.
"The thing I also like about Hideki is that he is aggressive as you only have to look at some of the shots he hits and the pins he takes," he added.
“So, all aspects of his game are very strong and he is very impressive”.
Last five Sony Open in Hawaii winners
2016 - Fabian Gomez - Argentina
2017 - Justin Thomas - USA
2018 - Patton Kizzire - USA
2019 - Matt Kuchar - USA
2020 - Cameron Smith - Australia
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