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.
Virtually by no means, that’s.
However it will probably, the truth is, be completed. 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 outdoors 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 staff 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 thought.
However then one thing humorous occurred: the Worldwide staff, captained by Peter Thomson, gained the primary three matches and by no means appeared again. They gave the Individuals 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. Regardless of: He teamed up with two of the lowest-ranked golfers within the area and went undefeated, 5-0-0, beating a few of the splashiest names within the sport 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 associate 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 truly attain the 18th gap — however the Worldwide facet nonetheless gained, 1 up, as a part of a 4.5-0.5 rout within the session that each one however put the Cup to mattress. That afternoon Maruyama and Ozaki took on the Individuals’ 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 report 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 staff, 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 celebrity, I used to be not afraid of the matches,” Maruyama stated in a latest interview with China Day by day. He additionally recalled how Thomson had urged them to maintain spirits excessive all through the competitors. “I’d additionally smile so much and yell ‘wow!’ to encourage the staff,” Maruyama added.
“After the occasion was over, I believed it will be humorous to indicate off, and I bear 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 facet 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 staff, recalled their celebratory get together, the way it stretched from the blackjack desk to the airplane and the way it was fortunate they have been permitted to board in any respect. Furyk, who was on the shedding facet as a Presidents Cup rookie that week, is the U.S. captain this week. To the twentysomethings comprising this week’s groups, that win could really feel like historic historical past, nevertheless it hasn’t pale from the Presidents Cup’s collective reminiscence. Not simply but.
Maruyama perked up as a reporter directed a query his approach for the primary time. Had he gotten to share any tales to date with the staff? 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 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 arduous to speak,” he stated. “I realized plenty of issues that week, and I realized that my sport may translate on the planet, all over the world, too, not simply in Japan. If a few of these guys need to have a speak about it or something, I’m at all times open to it, and we will focus on it extra in depth. I’d like to assist the staff in any approach I can.”
Maruyama’s position is totally different as this level in his life; he’s lengthy since moved on from a taking part in profession. He gained thrice on the PGA Tour — in 2001, 2002 and 2003 — however misplaced full standing after the 2008 season and returned to play extra often in Japan. The 2012 season was the final wherein 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 certainly one of his gamers, Hideki Matsuyama, gained bronze.
(Maruyama additionally took a photograph with longtime admirer Tommy Fleetwood, who known as him certainly one of his “childhood heroes.”)
A month later the Worldwide staff introduced that captain Mike Weir was bringing Maruyama aboard as the ultimate member its workers, partly as a result of constructive rapport with the staff’s lone Japanese consultant.
“Mike [Weir] felt that Hideki was barely totally different from the standard Hideki he was accustomed to [in Paris],” Maruyama informed China Day by day, explaining what he brings to the staff. “Throughout observe, we tried to maintain issues gentle and pleasant, with out getting in Hideki’s approach. We have been guffawing, and having time.
“Seeing Hideki laughing like that was uncommon for Mike, so he talked about that my presence was most likely important.”
Unlocking Matsuyama may show pivotal within the staff’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 recognize, we’re going to lean on him this week,” stated Adam Scott, the staff’s longest-tenured veteran. “We want him to ship factors. We want our greatest participant to ship factors.”
Scott couldn’t assist however grin when requested about Maruyama, too.
“Yeah, effectively, he’s fairly a character. , he’s a smiley face for us,” he stated. “, he’s an ideal addition, clearly, for Hideki. However for me, too, and simply typically a constructive individual, and that’s what you need round this week.”
Weir spoke to Maruyama’s addition, too.
“Hideki’s nice. He’s certainly one 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 instances he’s performed. He may need somebody from his staff with him, however he hasn’t had a teammate. There hasn’t been two Japanese on the identical time for him. So to have Shigeki right here for him is nice. He’s been implausible within the staff 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 known 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 foul instance for the remainder of the locker room to observe.
“Oh, we let the boys within the locker room know,” stated fellow assistant Trevor Immelman. “He’s completely been spoken about this week.”
