Hideki Matsuyama, the home country's hero was only player in the way to avoid Tiger from making historical record to tie all-time most win on US PGA Tour.
"Hideki was getting close, and I made few mistakes, so it was tough match" said Tiger, who now ties Sam Snead's record of 82 victories under his belt.

Sunday's long and tiring day wasn't enough to finish the 36-holes needed. Hideki had 6 more holes left on Monday. But for Hideki, in order to chase Tiger and to catch up with him, 6 holes were not enough.
"I knew that Tiger won't stumble, so I needed at least three or four birdies on the remaining 6 holes."

As Hideki said, he went very aggressive from the restarting 13th hole. On 14th, he had 1.5-meter birdie chance, but it lipped out. But at 16th, he made 5-meter birdie putt and narrowed his deficit to 2 shots. He had another birdie chance on 17, with 7-meter birdie try, which he recalls, "I had confidence in making it," but "Just missed it by like one ball. I wish I could have made that one".

By the time Hideki got to the final 18th, he knew that he needed an eagle to even become a threat to Tiger. It was going for "last one chance". But his tee shot gets caught in the fairway bunkers. Hideki still kept fighting by choosing 3W, attempting to make huge cut shot to the green from 267 yards out. He made a great shot, but the ball didn't bend enough and dropped in a greenside bunker.

In order to hang in for slight chance for a playoff, he had to hole the bunker shot, but he caught too much ball and it went over the pin and landed just around the edge.
"I couldn't make it, not even get close to the hole. I guess I still have to work on that kind of techniques. There was no chance, since I was only able to make 1 birdie out of 6 holes."

Hideki kept on pushing himself, but he had to settle for par ending. As for Tiger making history by marking his No.82 victory, "it's too incredible, so for a regular guy like me I don't know what to say", said Hideki. But he added, "I feel disappointed losing to him, but since he was won, he might come back again next year."