'Future megastar' Hideki Matsuyama wins first US title

Japan’s Hideki Matsuyama cemented his status as one of the game’s rising stars on Sunday, winning his first US PGA Tour title in a play-off at the Memorial.

Matsuyama, who had birdied the final hole of regulation to force the play-off with Kevin Na, won at the first play-off hole with a 10-foot par putt.

The 22-year-old Asian star became the fourth Japanese player to win on the US PGA Tour, notching the victory in just his 26th start.

“This is a future megastar,” six-times major champion Nick Faldo said on the CBS television broadcast. “This man is strong physically, mentally and technically.’

His triumph capped a wild final day that saw overnight leader Bubba Watson, the reigning Masters champion, drop out of contention after a bogey at 14 followed by a double-bogey seven at the par-five 15th at Muirfield Village.

Matsuyama’s own hopes looked dim after a double-bogey at the par-three 16th and bogey at 17. He looked to be in trouble again after a poor tee shot at the last but finished with a birdie that capped a three-under par 69 for 13-under 275.