Hideki Matsuyama details how his wallet was stolen in London, but only after shooting 65 to start the FedEx Cup Playoffs

MEMPHIS — It happens this way in golf: When a player is on form, there is very little that can derail him. Hideki Matsuyama is the latest example. The Japanese star was the victim of a robbery Monday at a restaurant in downtown London in which he lost his wallet, while his caddie and swing coach lost their passports and visas.

Three days later, Matsuyama, employing a new caddie, seemed unfazed by the incident, firing a five-under 65 Thursday at TPC Southwind to trail leader Chris Kirk by a stroke after the opening round of the FedEx St. Jude Championship.

“Completely. I’ve forgotten it completely. It’s not even an issue now,” Matsuyama, No. 12 in the world and eighth in the FedEx Cup standings, said through an interpreter. “It was an unfortunate situation. Luckily, I only lost my wallet, but Shota, my caddie, and the coach, lost their passports, and we’re trying hard now to get their visas back in line, and hopefully they can join us as a team as soon as possible.”

Matsuyama said that he was returning to the U.S. from Paris, where he won the Olympic golf bronze medal, and he was traveling with his caddie, Shota Hayato and coach Mikihito Kuromiya. They had a one-night layover in London and went to a restaurant downtown where the robbery occurred (it was initially reported that the incident occurred at the airport). Matsuyama had already paid the bill when the party noticed that a bag they were carrying with them that contained vital documents was missing.

Hayato and Kuromiya lost their travel documents and were forced to return to Japan, where they are in the process of requesting expedited travel documents. Matsuyama lost his wallet, but, fortunately, had left his passport in his hotel room.

Taiga Tabuchi, who formerly caddied for fellow Japanese tour pro Ryo Hisatsune, is on the bag for Matsuyama this week and quite possibly next week at the BMW Championship, though it is not certain when Hayato can get back to the U.S. The goal is to have him for the season finale, the Tour Championship in Atlanta.

“We’re pushing hard, looking toward East Lake [and the Tour Championship]. Shota will make it, I think, but my coach probably won’t,” Matsuyama, 32, said.

The Japanese star, winner of the 2021 Masters, was naturally pleased with his round that featured seven birdies and two bogeys, the second of those coming at the par-four 17th that dropped him out of a share of the lead. Getting used to a new caddie was part of the challenge. Not having his coach in attendance is more of a nuisance than a hindrance. He was determined to just go about his business.

“My job is the same. It’s just play golf,” Matsuyama said. “I talk to my coach every night on the phone. I’ve got a great caddie. Taiga did a great job today, so we’ll just see how it goes.”

The incident is another weird one for a top player this year. Of course, the most bizarre was the wrongful arrest of world No. 1 Scottie Scheffler at the PGA Championship in Louisville. The reigning Masters champion, Scheffler’s bid for the second major of the year was scuttled by having to deal with the incident. He has rebounded nicely since, adding two more wins to his total of six victories this year and, more recently, rallying the final day to win Olympic gold in France.