PGA Tour pro Michael Kim recently revealed an astonishing detail about the 2020 Players Championship that could’ve meant a massive payday for Hideki Matsuyama. In March 2020, Matsuyama was primed to lead the field after setting a scorching 9-under 63 in the first round at TPC Sawgrass. But when COVID-19 shut down the tournament after the first day, Matsuyama’s potential $2.7 million victory check vanished, all because four players failed to complete their rounds.
As the pandemic rapidly spread, the PGA Tour initially planned to continue the event without spectators, only to cancel the tournament outright by Thursday night. Under PGA rules, if all 144 players had completed the first round, Matsuyama would have been awarded the full winner’s check, with the purse distributed based on players’ scores after 18 holes. Instead, the tour opted to split the pot evenly among all players, with each taking home a mere $52,000.
Kim shared the revelation on X (formerly Twitter), sparking fan sympathy for Matsuyama. “If those 4 players had finished their first round, the entire purse would have been paid out and Hideki would have gotten the winning check of 2.7 million!” Kim tweeted. Despite this crushing “what if” scenario, Matsuyama went on to triumph the following season, winning the 2021 Masters and securing his first major title.
Though Matsuyama’s career earnings have topped $55 million, the near-miss of such a huge payday at Sawgrass is one of those unforgettable moments that remind us how unpredictable sports—and life—can be.
