Who Is Hideki Matsuyama's Caddie?

Get to know Hideki Matsuyama's bagman a little bit better

Who Is Hideki Matsuyama's Caddie?
(Image credit: Getty Images)

Who Is Hideki Matsuyama's Caddie?

Former world No 2 Hideki Matsuyama has had some huge victories in his career so far, including the Memorial Tournament, two World Golf Championship events and two Waste Management Phoenix Opens. Of course his biggest came at the 2021 Masters tournament. But who carries his bag currently? Let's take a look.

Hideki has had the same man on the bag for the past few years. He is called Shota Hayafuji and he appears to be quite the player himself as he has a player profile on the China Tour. His profile does not have much information on it but it appears in the last round posted, he shot a five-over 77 which included four birdies, a double, triple and quadruple bogey, and finally, a hole-in-one!

We are unsure how Hayafuji and Matsuyama know each other but they appear to be good friends as shown by Hayafuji's Instagram where he documents their travels around the golfing world.

Hayafuji also shot to acclaim around the world after the 2021 Masters, when he bowed to the course on the 18th hole. He and Matsuyama had just completed a one-stroke victory and the gesture was widely admired.

At the start of his golfing journey as a quality amateur and then professional, it appears Hideki had someone called Taisho Okabe on the bag, as you can see from the image below which is from the 2011 Masters where Hideki finished in a tie for 27th place and was the low amateur.

Working with Okabe at the 2011 Masters (Getty Images)

We are unsure when that partnership ended but Hideki turned up to the 2012 Masters with a caddie named Katsuya Kobayashi.

Again this was clearly a temporary partnership as Hideki then worked with caddie Daisuke Shindo for a while. This partnership lasted for a number of years and they had some good success together, including the first five of his PGA Tour victories. It appears the pair stopped working together at the beginning of the 2019 calendar year with Hayafuji first coming onto the bag at the Sony Open in Hawaii.

Hideki and Shindo winning the 2017 WGC-Bridgestone Invitational (Getty Images)
Sam Tremlett
E-commerce Editor

A golfer for most of his life, Sam is a Senior Staff Writer for Golf Monthly. 

Working with golf gear and equipment over the last six years, Sam has quickly built outstanding knowledge and expertise on golf products ranging from drivers, to balls, to shoes. 

He combines this knowledge with a passion for helping golfers get the best gear for them, and as such Sam manages a team of writers that look to deliver the most accurate and informative reviews and buying advice. This is so the reader can find exactly what they are looking for.


Sam now spends most of his time testing and looking after golf gear content for the website, whilst he is also responsible for all content related to golf apparel. 

He also oversees all Tour player content as well so if you need to know what clubs Tiger or Rory has in play, Sam is the person to ask. 

Unfortunately, Sam is not a member of any club at the moment but regularly gets out on the golf course to keep up the facade of having a handicap of five. 


Sam's What's In The Bag: 

Driver: Titleist TS3 (9 degrees) 

Fairway Wood: Callaway Paradym (15 degrees), Nike Covert Tour 2.0 (19 degrees) 

Irons (4-PW): Titleist AP2 

Wedges: Titleist Vokey SM7 54˚, 58˚ 

Putter: Scotty Cameron Phantom X 5.5 

Ball: Srixon Z-Star Diamond

Shoes: G/FORE Gallivanter/Nike Air Zoom Infinity NEXT%/Cuater The Ringer