Hideki Matsuyama: Caddie, Coach Had Passports Stolen, Can't Attend FedEx St. Jude

Hideki Matsuyama will be facing more challenges than just the rest of the field during the upcoming FedEx St. Jude Championship.

ESPN's Mark Schlabach noted Wednesday that Matsuyama told Golf Digest Japan he will be without his normal caddie, Shota Hayato, and swing coach, Mikihito Kuromiya, during the tournament because their passports and visas were stolen in London.

Matsuyama stopped in London following the 2024 Paris Olympics and was also the victim of a theft while in England. His wallet was stolen, although his passport and bronze medal he won in the Games were spared.

Hayato and Kuromiya were not as fortunate and needed to return to Japan in an effort to acquire expedited documents to return to the United States for the FedEx Cup playoffs.

The St. Jude Championship in Memphis, Tennessee, is the first leg of the playoffs, and the top 50 finishers will advance to the next stage at the BMW Championship in Castle Rock, Colorado. From there, the top 30 finishers advance to the Tour Championship at East Lake Golf Club in Atlanta.

Matsuyama is in solid position to advance at eighth in points this season, but playing without his caddie and swing coach represents an obstacle.

Taiga Tabuchi will step in for Hayato on Matsuyama's bag. Tabuchi has plenty of experience as the caddie for Japanese golfer Ryo Hisatsune.

"I'm glad he accepted," Matsuyama said. "He's worked with Hisatsune this year, so I think he knows the ropes, and he can speak English, so I can rely on him."

The St. Jude Championship takes place at TPC Southwind and begins Thursday. Matsuyama is scheduled for a 1:35 p.m. ET tee time and is partnered with Sahith Theegala.

Despite the incident in London, he should have plenty of momentum after his bronze-medal performance in Paris.

That was a much-needed showing after he missed the cut at the Genesis Scottish Open and finished in a tie for 66th at The Open Championship, although he also isn't far removed from a sixth-place finish in June's U.S. Open.