Hideki Matsuyama is drawing attention after just two tournaments into the new year. At The Sentry, he claimed his 11th Tour win and did it in style by breaking the all-time PGA Tour record for the lowest under-par score. Matsuyama carded a 35 under par and had a PGA Tour record, 33 birdies. Now he is looking to keep the momentum going at the Sony Open after finishing the first round three-under, ensuring a 17-way tie for 26th place. But that was not why everyone was talking about him at the Waialae Country Club.

If you scroll through the PGA Tour’s YouTube channel you will find a video titled “Typical Hideki Matsuyama Club Drop,” which has him dropping his club for a drive that went right down the middle of the fairway dropping. Now dropping a club isn’t something new for the Japanese golfer, but it is not common for him to swing his club into the crowd.

Matsuyama carded a first-round 67 to sit on three under, just three shots off the first-round lead at Waialae Country Club. After playing his first eight holes in level par, Hideki Matsuyama thrashed away at his tee shot down the scorable par-5 9th. He went after his tee shot, but almost immediately ended up regretting it. The reason? His Srixon driver took an unexpected flight toward the gallery as two women had to jump out of the way.

Realizing what had happened, Matsuyama sprang into action, jogging over to the fans to apologize for what had happened unintentionally. Luckily for the patrons and Matsuyama, no harm was done as his wayward club hit the rope and missed the spectators. This drew a reaction from NBC’s play-by-play golf commentator Dan Hicks.

Coming across a second shot of around 180 yards, Matsuyama had to clear the Hawaiian trees. He decided to go over the top, but his shot headed for the trees. The ball somehow managed to find the smallest of gaps to fit through and fly off towards the green.

However, he didn’t catch his shot properly, and his ball headed right at the trees. However, the ball managed to find the smallest of gaps to fit through and fly off towards the green. The golfer was surprised with how things unfolded but kept his cool to put away a seven-footer for birdie.

While Matsuyama’s swinging his club into the crowd was unintentional, it didn’t exempt him from criticism by the fans, who accused him of carelessness and called for a penalty on him.

Fans angry with Hideki Matsuyama for not swinging carefully

Golfers have been known to swing their clubs in anger which can lead to some fans getting in harm’s way. In 2018, Kevin Stadler smashed his club into the ground with the clubhead breaking off and hitting a fan in the head, who later required stitches.

Although Hideki Matsuyama did not throw his driver at the fans intentionally, it made some question his swinging capabilities. As the video of the swing of drive landing in the crowd went viral over X, fans were desperate for a fine over the pro.

One X user commented, “35 under and can’t hang onto a club. This club throwing is total BS drama, and they should be fined for it,” defaming his first 2025 win at the Sentry.

There was a similar incident when Dustin Johnson’s long shot ended up with the golf ball hitting a fan back in 2021. Although it was not the first time someone got hit by a golf ball on the field, it was still very risky, just like Hideki Matsuyama’s mishap in Hawaii this week.

A fan was so angry that they demanded immediate elimination, writing, “Suspend him immediately.” While other enthusiasts said Matsuyama “is annoying.” Among all these harsh comments, there was one golfing enthusiast who lightened the tension by posting a hilarious comment.

He wrote, “The fan should get to keep it.” Matsuyama uses a Srixon ZX5 Mk II LS of 9.5 degrees, which costs somewhere in the vicinity of $349.99. If someone would have unfortunately ended up being hurt, awarding them his club could have been Matsuyama’s way of saying sorry.

Well, for now The Sentry winner would hope to mount a comeback in the second round and also wish that it goes without any more drama involving the crowd at Waialae Country Club.

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