Matsuyama holds off Stenson to win World Challenge

Nassau (Bahamas) (AFP) – Hideki Matsuyama won his fourth title in the past two months Sunday, holding off Sweden’s Henrik Stenson to capture the Hero World Challenge by two strokes. 

It was Matsuyama’s first victory at the 18-player invitational event hosted by Tiger Woods, who made his comeback this week after a 16-month back injury layoff.

Matsuyama won in October at the Japan Open and World Golf Championships HSBC Champions and last month at the Taiheiyo Masters in Japan. He also was second in Malaysia in October during his hot streak.

Reigning British Open champion Stenson, down by as many as eight shots earlier in the round, sank a six-foot birdie putt at the 16th to pull within two shots of the Japanese standout and tension built after each parred the par-3 17th.

At 18, Matsuyama found the right rough and went over the green with his approach while Stenson gave himself a 10-foot birdie chance.

Matsuyama, 24, answered by chipping within inches of the cup on his third shot. Stenson, 40, lipped out on his birdie putt and both closed with pars.

When the drama concluded, Matsuyama finished on 18-under par 270 after a closing one-over par 73 while Stenson shot 68 to stand on 16-under 272 after 72 holes.

“I’ve played very well,” Matsuyama said.

US Open champion Dustin Johnson and fellow Americans Matt Kuchar and Rickie Fowler shared third on 275. Woods was 15th on 284 after a closing 76.

Matsuyama was headed back to Japan after the Challenge to visit family and friends in a break before returning to the tour next year.

Ranked a career-best sixth in the world, Matsuyama began the day with a seven-shot lead and made it eight with a birdie at the par-5 third.

Stenson, Matusyama’s final-round playing partner, closed the gap with a birdie at the par-5 sixth but Matsuyama held tough by sinking an eight-foot par putt at the eighth.

Stenson eagled the par-5 ninth to pull within six shots at the turn despite Matsuyama making a birdie at the ninth.

Matsuyama chipped from one bunker to another at the 10th on his way to a double bogey that trimmed his lead to five after Stenson made bogey.

Stenson tapped in for birdie at the 14th while Matsuyama made bogey, closing the Asian ace’s lead to three strokes with four to play.

At the par-5 15th, Stenson three-putted for par to miss a chance at trimming the margin after Matsuyama botched a bunker shot, chipping into deep rough on a slope above the sand trap but rescuing par from there.