Hideki Matsuyama left the entire golf world in awe with his incredible performance at The Sentry, 2025. He clinched his 11th PGA Tour title and smashed Cameron Smith’s lowest under-par record, with a jaw-dropping 35-under 257 at Kapalua. It was a performance that left fans and players alike in awe—33 birdies, two eagles, and just two bogeys. Epic, right? It’s not every day that talent like Matsuyama graces the PGA Tour. He’s truly one of a kind. But here’s something that might surprise a few people—Mao Matsuyama, who shares the same last name, is making waves in the golf world too.

Now, before jumping to conclusions, no, they’re not related. But Mao admits the shared last name has its perks. “I often get asked if we are brothers or related,” he said of Hideki. “Thanks to my last name, I get more attention from everyone, and I think that may be a good thing.” Even though there’s no family connection, Mao takes plenty of inspiration from the 32-year-old.

Mao Matsuyama wants to be better than Hideki Matsuyama

For Mao, the journey is just beginning, but his vision is clear: “I want to be one of the best golfers in the world, just like Hideki Matsuyama, and even go beyond that,” he shared. “As a Japanese, I want the world to know my name and be a famous professional golfer.” And why wouldn’t he look up to Hideki? Jaw-dropping birdie fest at Sentry. First Japanese golfer to win Masters.

Even Collin Morikawa had his slip-up while expressing the thrill of Hideki’s win. Mao, for his part, soaked in every second of Hideki’s phenomenal win. “I watched it in its entirety,” he said. “It was an amazing feat in itself to win the tournament. But to do so with that score was absolutely incredible. I only have one word—”incredible.”

Mao was even fortunate enough to tee up with Hideki during a practice round at the Sony Open 2025. “It was really a learning experience for me,” he added. “I was fortunate to play a round with him to continue my education,” he said. “He teaches me things…but mostly, I proactively watch him and try to absorb.” If there’s ever been a mentor-apprentice bond to watch, this might be the one.

At the Sony Open in Hawaii, Mao is making his PGA Tour debut, thanks to a sponsor exemption after winning the Japan Amateur in 2024. This event has always been a fan-favorite event for Japanese players, with legends like Isao Aoki and Hideki Matsuyama leaving their mark over the years. And now, Mao is making his own mark. But how did he become a golfer?

How did Mao Matsuyama end up choosing golf?

Mao’s journey in golf started when he was just 3. He picked up a club because his dad loved the game. Growing up in Nagoya, Japan, he quickly developed a passion for golf. By the time he was eight, his dream of becoming a professional golfer was well underway.

“As I played golf every day, I started to feel the sense of joy and fun in the game,” Mao explained. “I realized that I wanted to play this game for a long time. That’s how I started dreaming about becoming a professional golfer.” The teenager’s rise has been nothing short of remarkable.

2024 was a breakthrough season for him. He consecutively won the Toyota Junior World Cup and the Japan Amateur Championship. The latter made him the youngest champion in the event’s history. But it didn’t stop there.

He showed incredible consistency with two T5 finishes at the DUNLOP PHOENIX tournament challenge in Fukushima and the Japan Junior Championship. On top of that, he added two more impressive performances to his résumé, finishing 17th at the Chubu Open Golf Championship and earning a T17 spot at the Vantelin Tokai Classic. All of this helped him reach in top 200 of the World Amateur Golf Ranking. At just 15, he sits at No. 195 in the world.

So, while Mao and Hideki may not be brothers, this young prodigy is surely following a similar path. With his determination, skill, and the mentorship of Japan’s golf icon, Mao may soon become a name fans won’t forget anytime soon.