Hideki Matsuyama made history on Sunday by carding the lowest-ever 72-hole score in PGA Tour history. He shot an incredible 35-under to win The Sentry at Kapalua. Matsuyama’s record-breaking total surpassed Cameron Smith’s 34-under at the same event in 2022. He also bagged the record with a birdie on the final hole at The Plantation Course, finishing the day with an eight-under 65. 

“I thought (the record) maybe was 34 or 35, I wasn’t sure, but I kind of thought: ‘If I’m thinking like that, it probably won’t go in,’” Matsuyama told reporters via an interpreter when asked about the final hole. “But it did go in and I’m glad it did.” With that closing putt, the 2021 Masters champion also set a new PGA Tour record for the most birdies in a championship, with 35 in total. The victory, Matsuyama’s third in the last 10 months, earned him a $3.6 million prize. Hours after the historic moment, he was accused by Phil Mickelson.

The Japanese Pro has been on the PGA Tour for over a decade now, but he still is not proficient in English. Or at least that is what he claims according to Phil Mickelson. When he defeated Will Zalatoris at the 2021 Masters and grabbed the Green Jacket, one of his fans even asked him why he did not learn the language. He is rarely seen speaking the language.

Taking to this, Jake Knapp, a lifting coach, on his X account shared, “Hideki Matsuyama being on tour for 11 years and not knowing a lick of English is truly impressive. Props to him”. Phil Mickelson was not the one to stay silent. He replied to the tweet; “Hideki knows English but says “Hideki no English.”

To Mickelson’s jab or accusation, whatever you want to call it, Knapp replied, “Wow Phil, unreal you saw this and great response. Unfortunately, this is a PGA Tour Stan account.” Well, this is not the first time Lefty has attempted to spur a public conversation with Hideki Matsuyama. While this time it was an accusation, earlier it was a proposal.

Phil Mickelson encourages Hideki Matsuyama to join HyFlyers GC

Back in June 2023, Phil Mickelson made an offer to Hideki Matsuyama. He proposed an idea, that the Japanese golfer should join his LIV Golf team, the HyFlyers GC. This was after he saw a picture of the 32-year-old pro flying standby at the airport, returning home after the 2023 Memorial Tournament. He was on top of the event initially but ended up struggling in the final rounds, going over par, and eventually finished with a T16. A few hours later, the picture of him waiting in the line at the airport standby after checking out of the championship went viral.

LIV Golf fan page reported, “Hideki Matsuyama was swayed by the PGA Tour to turn down 9 figures from LIV Golf, Captaincy of his team & a yearly tournament in Japan. Now he’s flying standby at Spirit Airlines. Cue Frank Sinatra: Regrets, I’ve had a few…” To this, Mickelson quickly responded with, “This isn’t how the HYFLYERS FLY. Hideki should come fly with us.”

But well, Matsuyama in all probabilities declined the offer, and who knows, the accusations could be a result of the bad blood for denying the offer by Lefty? Do you think Matsuyama lies about not knowing English? Share your thoughts with us in the comments section below!