SAN ANTONIO — Just 10 days after he told media members he was at 80 percent in his recovery from neck and shoulder injuries suffered during the second round of the Arnold Palmer Invitational, reigning Masters champion Hideki Matsuyama pulled out of the Valero Texas Open on Friday.
Last year, Matsuyama shot 69-71-65-73 to win by one over Will Zalatoris and by three over 2015 champion Jordan Spieth and Xander Schauffele. It was his first major title and he became the first from Japan to win the Masters.
The move heightened speculation that he will not be able to defend his title.
