Shigeki Maruyama is a key determine behind the scenes of the 2024 Presidents Cup.
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MONTREAL — On the Presidents Cup the Worldwide Group is continually reminded of 1 factor: They by no means win this occasion.
Nearly by no means, that’s.
However it may well, in actual fact, be accomplished. Want proof? It’s there within the locker room. He’s there within the locker room. A 5-foot-7, Presidents Cup-winning, Tiger-and-Phil-beating, undefeated legend. And he simply is likely to be the Worldwide Group’s secret weapon this time round.
First, a visit again in time. The 12 months was 1998 and it was the third-ever taking part in of the Presidents Cup, now making its first journey exterior the US. Australia’s Royal Melbourne performed host, 22-year-old World No. 1 Tiger Woods made his occasion debut for the U.S. and Jack Nicklaus was crew captain. The remainder of the American roster was stacked, too: World No. 2 Mark O’Meara, No. 3 David Duval, No. 4 Davis Love III, No. 10 Phil Mickelson, No. 11 Fred {Couples} — you get the concept.
However then one thing humorous occurred: the Worldwide crew, captained by Peter Thomson, received the primary three matches and by no means regarded again. They gave the People a drubbing, unprecedented earlier than and unmatched since. Their unlikely chief that week? Japan’s Shigeki Maruyama, who entered the week as a prime expertise from the Japan Tour however a relative unknown on the worldwide stage; he was an occasion rookie and World No. 43, decrease than the lowest-ranked American. Irrespective of: He teamed up with two of the lowest-ranked golfers within the subject and went undefeated, 5-0-0, beating a number of the splashiest names within the recreation en path to an ideal week.
Maruyama’s dominant run started that Friday morning (the competitors was simply three days on the time) alongside foursomes companion Craig Parry, Aussie and World No. 53. The 2 took down Lee Janzen and Scott Hoch 3 and a pair of. That afternoon Maruyama performed four-ball alongside countryman Joe Ozaki (World No. 55, brother of the better-known Jumbo Ozaki) and beat Mark Calcavecchia and John Huston 4 and three. The Internationals opened up a 7-3 lead.
On Saturday, Maruyama and Parry went up in opposition to a star-studded American pairing of Woods and {Couples}, who succeeded solely in forcing Maruyama to really attain the 18th gap — however the Worldwide aspect nonetheless received, 1 up, as a part of a 4.5-0.5 rout within the session that every one however put the Cup to mattress. That afternoon Maruyama and Ozaki took on the People’ different premier partnership, Duval and Mickelson. Once more they walked off with a 1 up victory, and Maruyama left sporting the successful grin that gave him his nickname: the “Smiling Assasin.”
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On Sunday, Maruyama completed his week by dealing with Huston to the tune of a 3-and-2 victory, capping off a efficiency that continues to be historic for a lot of causes. Maruyama’s 5-0-0 document was the primary for an Worldwide participant; just one participant (Branden Grace in 2015) has matched it since. And 1998 stays the lone victory for the Worldwide crew, which is especially notable as a result of it got here in a 20.5-11.5 nine-point drubbing.
“As I used to be a rookie, and each American participant was a famous person, I used to be not afraid of the matches,” Maruyama stated in a current interview with China Every day. He additionally recalled how Thomson had urged them to maintain spirits excessive all through the competitors. “I’d additionally smile loads and yell ‘wow!’ to encourage the crew,” Maruyama added.
“After the occasion was over, I believed it will be humorous to indicate off, and I keep in mind placing the Cup on my head and shouting fortunately.”
What adopted is arguably the long-lasting picture of that win.
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However two and a half a long time of futility have adopted. The Worldwide aspect earned a tie in 2003 however have misplaced 9 in a row since then; an American victory at Royal Montreal this week would make 10. Maruyama performed only one extra Cup; he went 1-2-0 as a part of a shedding effort at Robert Trent Jones Golf Membership in 2000. However his .750 successful share stays the best of any Worldwide participant who’s performed a number of occasions.
And now he’s again.
MARUYAMA SAT QUIETLY on the finish of the captains’ assistants press convention on Wednesday afternoon at Royal Montreal, the oldest of the 9 males on stage. Fellow assistant Ernie Els, who went 3-1-1 as a part of that 1998 crew, recalled their celebratory celebration, the way it stretched from the blackjack desk to the aircraft and the way it was fortunate they had been permitted to board in any respect. Furyk, who was on the shedding aspect as a Presidents Cup rookie that week, is the U.S. captain this week. To the twentysomethings comprising this week’s groups, that win might really feel like historical historical past, nevertheless it hasn’t light from the Presidents Cup’s collective reminiscence. Not simply but.
Maruyama perked up as a reporter directed a query his method for the primary time. Had he gotten to share any tales up to now with the crew? Any knowledge? Had he gotten to brag about that 5-0-0 week? He shook his head, then delivered a prolonged, considerate monologue in Japanese to the assembled (largely English-speaking) media. Fellow assistant Camilo Villegas leaned into his microphone as Maruyama completed his remarks.
“Get all that?” he added, drawing laughs.
A translator handed on Maruyama’s remarks. “I haven’t had an excellent probability to speak to all these guys all that a lot about that have simply because my English isn’t as fluent, so it’s exhausting to speak,” he stated. “I discovered a number of issues that week, and I discovered that my recreation might translate on this planet, world wide, too, not simply in Japan. If a few of these guys wish to have a speak about it or something, I’m all the time open to it, and we will talk about it extra in depth. I’d like to assist the crew in any method I can.”
Maruyama’s function is completely different as this level in his life; he’s lengthy since moved on from a taking part in profession. He received 3 times on the PGA Tour — in 2001, 2002 and 2003 — however misplaced full standing after the 2008 season and returned to play extra regularly in Japan. The 2012 season was the final by which he performed greater than a handful of occasions; 2016 was the final time he teed it up in any OWGR-sanctioned competitors. However that didn’t imply he left golf; Maruyama remained concerned behind the scenes and resurfaced this summer season as Group Japan’s head coach on the Olympic Video games, the place one in every of his gamers, Hideki Matsuyama, received bronze.
(Maruyama additionally took a photograph with longtime admirer Tommy Fleetwood, who referred to as him one in every of his “childhood heroes.”)
A month later the Worldwide crew introduced that captain Mike Weir was bringing Maruyama aboard as the ultimate member its employees, partially as a result of optimistic rapport with the crew’s lone Japanese consultant.
“Mike [Weir] felt that Hideki was barely completely different from the same old Hideki he was aware of [in Paris],” Maruyama advised China Every day, explaining what he brings to the crew. “Throughout apply, we tried to maintain issues gentle and pleasant, with out getting in Hideki’s method. We had been guffawing, and having an excellent time.
“Seeing Hideki laughing like that was uncommon for Mike, so he talked about that my presence was in all probability important.”
Unlocking Matsuyama might show pivotal within the crew’s efforts to finish its shedding streak. He enters as their top-ranked participant at World No. 7 — and with loads of strain on his shoulders.
“He’s so good, and you realize, we’re going to lean on him this week,” stated Adam Scott, the crew’s longest-tenured veteran. “We’d like him to ship factors. We’d like our greatest participant to ship factors.”
Scott couldn’t assist however grin when requested about Maruyama, too.
“Yeah, effectively, he’s fairly a character. You already know, he’s a smiley face for us,” he stated. “You already know, he’s an ideal addition, clearly, for Hideki. However for me, too, and simply typically a optimistic individual, and that’s what you need round this week.”
Weir spoke to Maruyama’s addition, too.
“Hideki’s nice. He’s one in every of our leaders clearly. And having Shigeki right here, who was key in 1998, going 5-0 as a rookie to win. Seeing him, we competed in opposition to Shigeki for a few years, and to see his face once more again has been nice for us,” Weir stated Tuesday.
“He’s only a nice character. I believe it places a smile on Hideki’s face. He’s been the lone Japanese participant right here for all of the occasions he’s performed. He may need somebody from his crew with him, however he hasn’t had a teammate. There hasn’t been two Japanese on the similar time for him. So to have Shigeki right here for him is nice. He’s been unbelievable within the crew room.
“All people is aware of who Shigeki is,” Weir concluded. “Even the younger guys know who he’s. We confirmed them movies — in Australia clearly they referred to as him the ‘Smiling Murderer’ again then. He’s a lighthearted man and enjoyable to be round.”
A lighthearted man with a successful resume? Not a nasty instance for the remainder of the locker room to comply with.
“Oh, we let the boys within the locker room know,” stated fellow assistant Trevor Immelman. “He’s completely been spoken about this week.”
