MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) -- Japanese ace Hideki Matsuyama has already left his imprint on the World Cup, much to the despair of the course superintendent of host golf club Kingston Heath.
Matsuyama spent so long on the practice putting green in stifling heat on Monday that his footmarks burned the grass in three spots which then had to be temporarily cordoned off.
While few early arrivals even ventured outside in the 35 degrees (95 F) heat, the world No.6 worked undistracted for five hours to perfect his putting technique to prepare for the fast greens that are one of the trademarks of the 7111-yard (6503-meter) par 72 course that's ranked second behind Royal Melbourne in this city's famed sandbelt golf region in the south-east suburbs.