On Monday at the Quail Hollow, Mother Nature helped us determine who really wants to win this 2025 PGA Championship. His name is Hideki Matsuyama, and he wasn’t going to let torrential rain impact his major prep.
The first day of PGA Championship week did not go as planned. Instead of having the entire field of golf stars play practice rounds and prep on the range all day, major downpours walloped the course, forcing most fans and players to pack up and leave.
And the rain isn’t going to stop any time soon. A quick look at the PGA Championship weather forecast for this week in Charlotte shows that things should be calm during the tournament rounds. But before then, more rain is on the way.
Rainy day on the range.
— GOLF.com (@GOLF_com) May 13, 2025pic.twitter.com/bvNJDrYHGj
Tuesday, May 13, could see severe thunderstorms crash Quail Hollow. And AM showers are expected again on Wednesday.
So if you’re a pro who’s keen on getting as much practice in as possible, you have no choice but to battle with the elements.
And that’s exactly what Matsuyama did on Monday.
While most players were nowhere to be found once the downpours started on Day 1, PGA Tour pro Austin Eckroat happened to be walking the course.
In the process, he happened upon the practice green and a wild scene that was unfolding.
There on the partially flooded putting surface amid heavy rain was Matsuyama, the 2021 Masters champion, casually getting in some putting practice as if it was a beautiful day.
Two of Matsuyama’s team members were generously helping him out, with one holding an umbrella over his head as he putted. Eckroat took a quick video of the moment, and posted it to Instagram with the caption, “This guy wants it @hideki.matsuyama_official.” Check it out below.
