Published July 17, 2008 on October 1, 2018

Matsuyama, Scott, Horschel, Finau, and Casey Commit to Play in CJ Cup@ Nine Bridges

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The CJ CUP @ NINE BRIDGES confirmed that global stars – Hideki Matsuyama, Adam Scott, Billy Horschel, Tony Finau and Paul Casey – will join 2017 FedExCup Champion Justin Thomas, Brooks Koepka and Jason Day in the field at the US$9.5 million CJ CUP @ NINE BRIDGES from October 18 to 21. Additionally, a trio of Korean-born PGA TOUR stars, Si Woo Kim, Byeong Hun An, and Whee Kim, as well as last year’s runner-up Marc Leishman are all set to compete at NINE BRIDGES.

CJ CUP @ NINE BRIDGES Executive Director Travis Steiner said: “We are pleased to announce a second wave of international and South Korean PGA TOUR stars for our tournament later this month. The inaugural CJ CUP @ NINE BRIDGES last year was an incredible success, and we expect the second edition to top that with the impressive line-up of players who have committed to compete in Jeju island.”

Matsuyama, Japan’s top-ranked player at No. 20 in the Official World Golf Ranking, has five PGA TOUR wins and will be making his first start at the CJ CUP @ NINE BRIDGES. The 26-year-old rode a hot form to end the 2017-18 PGA TOUR Season with top-15 finishes in each of his last five starts, including T4 finishes at both the Dell Technologies Championship and season-ending TOUR Championship.

“I heard great things from my fellow players last year about the CJ CUP @ NINE BRIDGES, and I’m really looking forward to being back in Asia competing there this year. I hope to challenge for the win,” said Matsuyama.

Adam Scott, a 13-time PGA TOUR winner and former World No. 1, rode a wave of good form late in the season with a third-place finish at the PGA Championship and a T5 at THE NORTHERN TRUST as he prepares a return to Korea, where he finished 25^th a year ago. Scott, who has 13 international victories to his credit in addition to 13 PGA TOUR wins, is in search of his first win on TOUR since his back-to-back victories at the Honda Classic and World Golf Championships-Cadillac Championship in 2016.

“I thoroughly enjoyed my experience on Jeju Island last year at the first CJ CUP. The course was terrific as was the support of the Korean fans. With the PGA TOUR establishing tournaments in Asia, the game is receiving great exposure in the region and I’m looking forward to getting back there to compete,” said Scott.

After finishing just two shots back at the TOUR Championship, Billy Horschel heads to the CJ CUP @ NINE BRIDGES after finishing fifth in the FedExCup standings in the recently concluded 2017-18 season. The 2014 FedExCup Champion and five-time PGA TOUR winner recorded top-three finishes in three of the four FedExCup Playoffs events.

“I had a terrific end to the season and I’m looking forward to heading to Asia and continuing the momentum from the FedExCup Playoffs,” Horschel said. “All of my friends that played last year raved about the course, the fans, and the experience, and I’m excited about making my first start in Korea!”

During the 2017-18 PGA TOUR Season, Finau was tied for the second most top-10s on TOUR with 11 on his way to a sixth-place finish in the final FedExCup standings. The 29-year-old American finished inside the top-10 in three of the four FedExCup Playoffs events and recorded top-10s in three major championships this year as well.  He also earned a captain’s pick for a debut appearance in the Ryder Cup for the United States team last week.

Paul Casey, who competed for the victorious European team at the Ryder Cup which concluded on Sunday, has 14 international victories and recorded his second career PGA TOUR victory earlier this year at the Valspar Championship.

Ernie Els, the International Team Captain for the 2019 Presidents Cup and 19-time PGA TOUR winner, will also be in the field at the CJ CUP @ NINE BRIDGES for the first time.