Matsuyama wins WGC-HSBC Champions
Japan's Hideki Matsuyama fired a final round six under 66 for a seven-shot victory and a total of 23-under-par to lift the WGC-HSBC Champions title in Shanghai on Sunday.
In joint second place with a 16 under total was Henrik Stenson of Sweden and American Daniel Berger. They were followed by Northern Ireland's Rory McIlroy and America's Bill Haas tied for fourth spot.
World number 10, Matsuyama, shot six birdies in his final round without dropping a shot at Sheshan International to become the first Japanese player to win a World Golf Championship title.
The 24-year-old Matsuyama opened with a birdie at the first, fifth and seventh extending his lead to four strokes at the turn.
He then made three more birdies on the 14th, 14th and 15th holes on the back nine and despite hitting his second shot into the water on the par-five 18th hole he still finished with a par, holing an 18-foot putt.
A bogey-free 68 lifted Rickie Fowler in a tie-for-sixth with Ross Fisher and Francesco Molinari, as defending champion Russell Knox struggled to a closing 74 to end tied-ninth with Sergio Garcia.
Defending champion Russell Knox, who played alongside Matsuyama and Berger in the final group, struggled and finished the front nine with two bogeys and started the back nine with a pair of bogeys. He closed with a 74 and tied for ninth.
In an interview afterwards, Knox said Matsuyama was brilliant over the last two days. "He was brilliant," said Knox. "No weaknesses the last two days. He drove the ball well and far, and his iron play was very good. And he made it look very easy."
Leading scores:
1 JPN Hideki Matsuyama -23 (66,65,68,66) 265
T2 USA Daniel Berger -16 (66,70,67,69) 272
T2 SWE Henrik Stenson -16 (69,71,67,65) 272
T4 USA Bill Haas -15 (67,67,70,69) 273
T4 NIR Rory McIlroy -15 (71,66,70,66) 273
T6 ENG Ross Fisher -14 (69,68,69,68) 274
T6 USA Rickie Fowler -14 (65,73,68,68) 274
T6 ITA Francesco Molinari -14 (67,69,68,70) 274
T9 ESP Sergio Garcia -12 (68,72,69,67) 276
T9 SCO Russell Knox -12 (66,68,68,74) 276
11 ARG Emiliano Grillo -11 (72,67,71,67) 277
T12 ENG Paul Casey -10 (67,70,72,69) 278
T12 SWE Alexander Noren -10 (68,72,70,68) 278
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