Matsuyama is Great to See in More Ways Than One

Hideki Matsuyama has quickly become a force to be reckoned with in the golf world. With five worldwide wins in his last nine starts, there is no doubt that he is the best player in the game right now. Okay, he's no Tiger Woods, or Jack Nicklaus. But he's awfully good, and who knows what we'll be saying about him in twenty years.

He's also refreshing to see, because in this age of players relying on swing coaches, putting coaches, short game gurus, strength coaches, nutitionists, sports psychologists and whoever else to help them play their best golf, Matsuyama has done this pretty much on his own. He's developed an unusual swing that works. He's spent countless hours learning to be a good putter. And he's done it his way.

It's nice to see that in this era when top players seem to feel they need an entourage of experts to help them play this game at the very top level, there are guys like Matsuyama and Bubba Watson, to name but two, who can win without anyone, other than their caddie, to assist them in playing the game.

That being said, there is no doubt that Matsuyama has made a study of the game. And there is little doubt that he has learned from watching other great players. No man is an island, and no one gets through this life without some help along the way. But Matsuyama just shows us that golf is learned best, as Bobby Jones said, by playing--by hitting that ball until we can make it behave. That takes talent, aptitude, hard work and desire. And there ain't no teacher or psycologist that can give you those things.