ST. LOUIS – Caddie Shota Hayafuji is out for the remainder of the FedEx Cup Playoffs and beyond.
Hayafuji ― who has been on the bag of Hideki Matsuyama since 2019 and gained worldwide attention for his respectful bow to Augusta National after his boss became the first Japanese golfer to win the Masters in 2021 ― is dealing with a herniated disk in his neck, Matsuyama's longtime manager and interpreter, Bob Turner, confirmed.
Taiga Tabuchi is taking over in his absence for Matsuyama. Hayafuji and Tabuchi had been splitting time for much of the season already due to Hayafuji’s wife having a baby earlier this year.
But Hayafuki's neck injury means he will miss extended time. The pain has extended down his right shoulder and arm, Turner said. Hayafuji was supposed to return at the Wyndham Championship but he called Turner and informed him he couldn’t even make a fist with his right hand.
Matsuyama gave him the rest of the season off, Turner confirmed. That is expected to include the Presidents Cup at Medinah No. 3 in Chicago. Matsuyama is a lock to make the International Team again.
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Turner said Hayafuji is targeting a return to Matsuyama's bag at the Baycurrent Classic, the PGA Tour’s lone event in Japan, which is part of the FedEx Cup Fall series and will be held in October. Matsuyama previously won the tournament his homeland in 2021 when it was known as the Zozo Championship. Matsuyama likely will defend his title at the Hero World Challenge in The Bahamas in December.
Matsuyama, 34, hasn’t missed a beat without his trusted sidekick. He’s reeled off six straight top-15 finishes: T-14 at the Travelers Championship; T-14 at the Open Championship; T-3 at the 3M open; T-5 at the Rocket Classic; T-7 at the Wyndham Championship; T-7 at the FedEx St. Jude Championship. He made the cut in all 20 of his regular-season starts in 2026.
Matsuyama enters the BMW Championship at 15th in the season-long FedEx Cup standings, comfortably inside the top-30 cutoff to advance to next week's season-ending Tour Championship.
Adam Schupak is a senior writer for Golfweek, covering the PGA Tour.
This article originally appeared on Golfweek: Hideki Matsuyama caddie Shota Hayafuji out for season, Taiga Tabuchi to continue filling in