Hideki Matsuyama won the Masters Golf Tournament on Sunday. He’s earned over $35 million over the course of his professional golfing career. But his non-pretentious flight home via Atlanta and Chicago showcases a different personality than other celebrity golfers.
Hideki Matsuyama Nonchalantly Travels With His Green Jacket Through ATL + ORD
Despite his immense wealth, 29-year-old Matsuyama drives a minivan. Rather than hang out with his fellow golfers after winning the Masters, he sat in his car and played games on his mobile phone.
Yesterday, he traveled from Atlanta to Chicago and was seen walking through the airport with his green jacket, the victory jacket of the Masters, slung over his arm.
Listener spotted Hideki & his crew at ATL this morning. Carrying the green jacket through the airport flying commercial. Love to see it. #respect pic.twitter.com/GIZ0EsabfM
— Riggs (@RiggsBarstool) April 12, 2021
The floors give it away. This is not ATL, but Chicago O’Hare (ORD). But he was spotted in Atlanta as well:
Pretty sure this is Hideki Matsuyama’s last moment as one of us (via @BryanPtak) pic.twitter.com/WQCX6sPOD9
— Darren Rovell (@darrenrovell) April 12, 2021
Apparently he flew from Atlanta to Chicago on United Airlines (UA5284), then took ANA (NH11) from Chicago to Tokyo Narita.
I love it…just sitting in the gate area, engrossed in your phone, with the green jacket hanging over an adjacent seat.
CONCLUSION
Matsuyama returns to Japan as a hero, the first Japanese player to win a men’s major golf tournament. With all the endorsement deals coming, he may never (need) to fly commercial again. But I have a feeling you’ll still be able to spot him from time to time on a commercial flight.
I imagine paid commercial first is a steal compared to chartering a jet transpacific for 100k or more. And likely more comfortable…
This act of sensible thoughtfulness reminded me a story about Jack Nicklaus. I heard he used to start the competitive golf season by asking his mentor to give a lesson. Great leaders start by practicing lessons in humility,not self promotion.
He is fortunate that someone didn’t grab that green jacket.
I thought the green jacket was supposed to stay at Augusta National.
Don’t think so.
So, the current winner gets to take it home, but must return it to the club next year, where it then stays.
https://golfweek.usatoday.com/2021/04/11/masters-green-jacket-six-facts/
First, Asian culture- Saving, saving, and saving. Secondly, people might recognize him and “May I take a picture with you” so that makes him even more popular. Last but not least, flying commercial will give him a great chance to meet some young, beautiful single female Americans or Hispanics.
What size aircraft would he have to charter to even begin to compare to the comfort and catering of an ANA 773?
It is refreshing. Most of those top level golfers are pretty down to earth; they don’t suffer from the ego-mania seen in other sports like football ( of all codes) and basketball .
Does UA still sponsor the PGA tour?
Does PGA not give a garment bag for the jacket?
Technically the jackets are not supposed to leave Augusta National. They make an exception for the current winner, but he is expected to return it to the club next year and leave it there going forward.
He’s more humble than you, Matthew!
His win is projected to be worth $600 million (some estimates claim a lot more) over time from endorsements. He will be able to travel however he chooses I guess.