IF Hideki Matsuyama beats the strongest field in golf and becomes the first Japanese winner at The Players Championship this week, those who blazed the trail for Asian golf before him will be the least surprised.

Matsuyama, who is now the winningest Asian golfer on the PGA Tour with nine victories, makes his ninth start at this weekend’s The Players Stadium Course at TPC Sawgrass with his sights set firmly on the coveted swinging golfer trophy which comes with winning the Tour’s flagship US$25mil (RM117mil) showpiece.