Matsuyama without caddie, coach after theft

Japan's Hideki Matsuyama and his team were robbed during a stopover in London while heading to the first leg of the PGA Tour playoffs, after winning a bronze medal at the Paris Olympics, Japanese media reported on Wednesday.

The former Masters champion told Golf Digest Japan that he had his wallet stolen, and the passports and visas of his caddie Shota Hayato and coach Mikihito Kuromiya were also taken.

World No 12 Matsuyama told the website that Hayato and Kuromiya have returned to Japan and are working to get their documents reissued.

The earliest they will be able to travel to the United States will be for the Aug 29-Sept 1 season-ending Tour Championship.

"There's a chance they'll make it, but we have to go into it thinking it's close to zero," Matsuyama told Golf Digest.

Representatives for Matsuyama and the PGA Tour did not immediately respond to Reuters when asked to confirm reports of the robbery. Matsuyama secured Japan's first Olympic medal in men's golf in Paris.

REUTERS