The word ‘privacy’ is synonymous with Hideki Matsuyama. Here is a fact: no one in the media knew about his marriage until he announced the birth of his daughter. The Japanese pro and his equally-private wife, Mei, tied the knot in January 2017.

They have a daughter born in July. The Japanese pro first announced it from Quail Hollow during the 2017 PGA Championship. His daughter is named Kanna. In Japanese, the name ‘Kanna’ has various meanings depending on the Kanji character (Japanese script) it’s written in. It can mean flowers, trees, or even a ring.

Although. she is seven years old now, neither the daughter nor the mother has ever been spotted with Matsuyama. Interestingly, only through Kanna’s birth did the world get to know about Matsuyama’s marital status.

His rationale was unbelievably simple. “No one really asked me if I was married. I felt that after the PGA would be a good time because our baby is born, and I thought that would be a good time to let everyone know.”

There were some rumors that it might be the same Mei who caddied for him at the 2016 Hero World Challenge. There was no way to confirm the rumors. Currently, Shota Hayafuji loops for him.

Interestingly, Alan Bastable of Golf.com set out in pursuit of knowing Matsuyama more. The endeavor wasn’t entirely fruitless. He got to know that barely anyone knows anything about the Japanese pro’s off-course life.

The journalists from his home country never pressed him on the matter. They revealed the nine-time PGA Tour winner is extremely shy. A fact that Hideki Matsuyama also agrees to. He once admitted that speaking in front of the media makes him nervous.

Nevertheless, much to his credit, the two-time major winner never skips a question during his pressers. Whether it’s about clicking pictures with Tiger Woods at the Genesis Invitational or about his niggling back injury, the 32-year-old has been forthright in front of the media.

The time Hideki Matsuyama brushed aside any criticism of his marriage

Matsuyama had to endure a long title drought between 2017 and 2021. After three title hauls in 2017, the gap was glaring. Detractors opined that the Japanese star might be struggling on the course due to his new off-course duties. Hideki Matsuyama, however, refused to accept that criticism.

Asked on the matter, the nine-time PGA Tour winner said, “Of course, happy about the family. But golf is golf. Once we get on the golf course, that’s what I’m thinking about.” He was notably battling with a lingering thumb injury as well, which forced him to opt out of the 2018 WM Phoenix Open.

It was indeed a dry spell in his career, but he bounced back in 2021, becoming the first Japanese golfer to don the Green Jacket. Once again, injury, and not family troubles, marred his campaign for two years before Hideki Matsuyama registered his ninth victory at the 2024 Genesis Invitational.