PGA Tour golfer Hideki Matsuyama reveals shocking details about how he and his caddie were robbed in London while returning from 2024 Olympics
Golfer Hideki Matsuyama has shared the distressing experience he, his caddie Shota Hayato, and coach Mikihito Kuromiya faced when they were robbed during a visit to London following the 2024 Olympics.
The 32-year-old athlete, who had just won a bronze medal for Japan in Paris, decided to stop in England for a brief stay. Unfortunately, their trip took a turn for the worse when they were targeted by thieves.
Matsuyama recounted the incident after competing in the FedEx St. Jude Championship, revealing that the robbery occurred while they were dining at a restaurant.
“We didn’t even know it happened,” he explained through a translator. The group had just finished their meal when they discovered that their bags were missing. Matsuyama recalled, “We were just having a friendly dinner, and Shota was the first one – ‘Hey, where is my bag?’ Of course, it was frustrating, but we really didn’t know it happened. It was just kind of all of a sudden.”
Fortunately, Matsuyama did not lose his Olympic medal during the incident, but his wallet was stolen. Meanwhile, his coach and caddie had their passports taken, complicating their return to Japan.
Despite the ordeal, Matsuyama remained focused on his game, posting an impressive five-under-65 in the first round of the St. Jude Championship. He added that while his caddie Hayato might rejoin him for the TOUR Championship on August 29, his coach Kuromiya’s return remains uncertain.
As of now, Matsuyama is continuing to perform well in the tournament, sitting at 10-under-par through 12 second-round holes.