The trophy Hideki Matsuyama received for winning the WGC Bridgestone Invitational looked just like the one they've been giving out to all of the previous winners, but on Sunday, Matsuyama was playing a different game.
Trailing third-round leaders Thomas Pieters and Zach Johnson by two, Matsuyama erupted for seven birdies and an eagle to tie the course record of 61. It gave him a five-shot win, and reminded everyone that Jordan Spieth isn't the only player in his mid-20s to watch at this week's PGA.
Like Spieth, Matsuyama has a swing that is cut from a different mold than most. Matsuyama's signature element is a dramatic pause at the top of his backswing. Since the 25-year-old Japanese player has dominant tee-to-green stats, should you be adding (or, in this case, subtracting) some of that to your swing?
Related: Hideki Matsuyama's Swing Sequence
Not so fast, says Golf Digest Best Young Teacher Michael Jacobs. “Matsuyama looks like a player who is going to chall..

Augusta National Golf Club's long-rumored purchase of land from neighboring Augusta Country Club appears to be a done deal. Now, the question of what will happen to the most famous par 5 in golf remains.
On Sunday, Augusta radio personality Austin Rhodes shared a letter from Augusta Country Club president Jay B. Forrester informing members that a “purchase of property at our northwest boundary” had been approved by the club's board of governors. The land is the site of Augusta Country Club's eighth and ninth holes, which the letter says will be reconstructed “at no cost to Augusta Country Club.” Those two holes sit just behind Augusta National's 12th green and 13th tee. Here's a look at the full letter Rhodes posted to his Facebook page:
https://twitter.com/SeanFrantom/status/894390241884340224
With the land, Augusta National could lengthen No. 13 by adding a new tee box. Despite the hole's iconic stature, at 510 yards, and with long hitters being able to ..

Ross Kinnaird(Photo by Ross Kinnaird/Getty Images)CHARLOTTE, N.C. — In February, the PGA of America announced that competitors would be permitted to wear shorts during practice rounds at all member and major championships under the organization's umbrella, including this week's PGA Championship. Though the European Tour introduced a similar policy in January of 2016, its introduction in the United States remains novel. (While the USGA does allow shorts in some competitions, it implements the PGA Tour's ban at the U.S. Open.)
During Monday's practice round at Quail Hollow, the players took advantage of this new exception, letting their legs breathe in the Carolina humidity:
FacebookPinterestFacebookPinterestFacebookPinterestSurprisingly, it wasn't just the young guys that were in on the action. Many veterans — most notably, 40-year-old Paul Casey and 38-year-old William McGirt — took advantage of the relaxed dress code.
FacebookPinterestRoss KinnairdFacebookP..

Gregory ShamusAKRON, OH – AUGUST 06: Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland lines up a putt on the eighth green during the final round of the World Golf Championships – Bridgestone Invitational at Firestone Country Club South Course on August 6, 2017 in Akron, Ohio. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)Final PGA Championship odds are out and Rory McIlroy will arrive at Quail Hollow as a slight favorite over Jordan Spieth. McIlroy (7/1) gets the edge over Spieth (8/1) from Westgate Las Vegas Superbook on the strength of his two previous victories at this year's PGA Championship venue.
Spieth, however, is the hotter player having won the Travelers Championship and British Open in successive starts before finishing T-13 at the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational this past weekend. McIlroy, with best friend Harry Diamond caddying for him for the first time, finished T-5 at Firestone.
RANKING: The 13 best bets at the 2017 PGA Championship
WGC-Bridgestone Invitational winner Hideki Matsuyama and Wo..