Hideki Matsuyama is the ultimate heat-check golfer

The term "heat check" is typically reserved for basketball players who are so in the zone that everything they throw up near the rim is going in. 

Think Tracy McGrady scoring 13 points in 35 seconds to lead the Houston Rockets to an improbable win against the San Antonio Spurs in 2004, or Stephen Curry making two three-pointers in a row and then pulling up from 40 feet on the next possession to test the limits of his greatness.

The heat check isn't limited to just the basketball court. Golfers can experience heat checks, too, and Hideki Matsuyama is the PGA Tour's ultimate fireball.

Matsuyama shot a 9-under 62 in the final round of The Genesis Invitational to erase a six-stroke deficit and win his ninth career PGA Tour event. The Japanese star began the day with three straight birdies to open up his round. 

After hitting a lul for the next six holes, Matsuyama shot up the leaderboard with another three-pack of birdies to begin his back 9. Two solid pars on 13 and 14 kept the momentum going, then he went for the throat. 

On the brutal, 499-yard 15th hole, Matsuyama took dead aim at the tucked pin and stuck his 189-yard approach shot to eight inches. Tap in birdie No. 1. Then, he hit a carbon copy on the par-3 16th that nearly went in and trickled to six inches away from the hole. Tap in birdie No. 2. 

On the par-5 17th, Matsuyama nuked a 3 wood 300 yards up the hill and hit a feathery chip to three feet. Tap in birdie No. 3.

Three holes, three birdie putts from a combined distance of four feet, two inches. Now that's a heat check.

By the time his electric flurry was over, Matsuyama suddenly had a three-shot lead with one hole to play. A stress-free par on the difficult 18th sealed the win and a $4M prize. 

This isn't the first time Matsuyama has done something like this. During the third round of the 2021 Masters, he went six under in a seven-hole stretch to cap off a 7-under 65. He went on to win the following day. 

At the 2017 WGC-Bridgestone Invitational, Matsuyama fired a 9-under 61 in the final round to tie the course record at Firestone Country Club and win his fourth event of the year. 

More recently, Matsuyama shot 63-63 on the weekend to force a playoff at the 2022 Sony Open. He proceeded to stick a 3 wood to two feet on the par-5 18th and make an eagle to win the tournament. 

Matsuyama can be inconsistent at times, but there aren't many pro golfers who can heat-check quite like him. He proved it again on a thrilling Sunday at Riviera Country Club.