Victim of Robbery, Hideki Matsuyama’s Caddie Faces Unfortunate Fate With 1 Day Left for $20M FedEx Cup Playoff

A shocking incident has cast a shadow over the FedEx St. Jude Championship, leaving one of golf’s top players reeling. Hideki Matsuyama, a strong contender for the $20 million FedEx Cup playoff, has faced an unexpected blow that now threatens his preparations for the high-stakes tournament. What happened was not a swing malfunction or a training mishap. It was something far more unexpected.

In a daylight robbery, thieves in London stole the valuable items, including Matsuyama’s wallet and, more crucially, the passports of his caddie and coach. The stolen passports have forced Matsuyama’s trusted caddie, Shota Hayato, and coach Mikihito Kuromiya to return to Japan, leaving him without his usual support team just one day before the tournament.

🚨🪪⛳️#NEWS — Hideki Matsuyama & his team are victims of a robbery. During a stopover in London while on route to Memphis, Matsuyama’s wallet was stolen, as were the passports for his caddie and coach, who have now been forced to return to Japan and won’t be able to make it back… pic.twitter.com/5J7DdZHjar

— NUCLR GOLF (@NUCLRGOLF) August 14, 2024

The result is a crucial adjustment that may impact Matsuyama’s chances of success. His caddie, a vital part of his team, won’t be able to carry his bag—at least not yet. The unfortunate incident occurred during a stopover in London, where Matsuyama and his team were en route to Memphis.