Former Masters Champ's Caddie Mistaken for Wife at PGA Tour's Rocket Classic
The PGA Tour's Rocket Classic kicked off on Thursday at Detroit Golf Club, and already the leaderboard is lighting up. Min Woo Lee tied the course record with a 9‑under par 63.
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Amid the scoring fireworks, a compelling storyline took the internet by storm — a former Masters champion has taken the course with a new caddie. Late Thursday morning, Hideki Matsuyama, the 2021 Masters winner, teed off with Mei Inui on the bag in place of his longtime caddie, Shota Hayafuji.
Matsuyama's wife also has the name Mei, prompting multiple reports as well as the tournament's broadcast to incorrectly relay that she was on the veteran golfer's bag at the Rocket Classic. Inui is a seasoned professional caddie who Matsuyama had utilized in prior years.
The PGA Tour attempted to clear up the confusion on social media.
Hideki Matsuyama hits the ball off the 15th tee during the second round of the Memorial Tournament.© Samantha Madar/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
"Seeing this floating around a lot, including on the broadcast, but am told this is NOT Hideki Matsuyama's wife," PGATour.com's Paul Hodowanic remarked in a Thursday message on X.
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"Matusyama's manager told TOUR Comms, 'No it's not his wife. This week's caddie is Mei Inui who caddied for Hideki when he won the Hero World Challenge back in 2016.'"
Matsuyama and Mei, who married in January 2017 then welcomed a daughter later in the same year, have been tight-lipped about their relationship.
'No one really asked me if I was married, so I didn't have to answer that question,' Matsuyama said of his marital status, per Golf Monthly. 'But I felt that after the (2017) PGA would be a good time, because our baby is born and I thought that would be a good time to let everyone know.'
Matsuyama shares a deep bond with his wife and family.
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'I was thinking about them all the way around today. I'm really happy that I played well for them," the golfer said after winning the 2021 Masters, via Golf Monthly.
It will be worth watching how Matsuyama performs with a new caddie on the bag at the Rocket Classic.
Related: Collin Morikawa News Emerges Just 24 Hours Before Rocket Classic Tees Off
This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 26, 2025, where it first appeared.
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