Shota Hayafuji out for season; Taiga Tabuchi to caddie for Matsuyama

Hideki Matsuyama's caddie Shota Hayafuji is sidelined for the rest of the season due to a herniated disk in his neck. Hayafuji has been caddying for Matsuyama since 2019 and will take an extended leave after experiencing severe pain. Taiga Tabuchi will continue to fill in during Hayafuji's absence. Matsuyama, currently ranked 15th in the FedEx Cup standings, has recorded six consecutive top-15 finishes, having made the cut in all 20 of his regular-season starts in 2026. Hayafuji is targeting a return for the Baycurrent Classic in October, which is part of the FedEx Cup Fall series and includes Matsuyama's title defense at the Hero World Challenge in December.

• 9:00 PMYahoo Sports — Hideki Matsuyama caddie Shota Hayafuji out for season, Taiga Tabuchi to continue filling in