o Spurs?and earned the role of?assistant video coordinator.dddddddddddd Guthrie began his NBA career as a basketball operations intern with the then-Austin Toros of the NBA Development League in 20

NASSAU, Bahamas -- Comparisons to legends are rarely fair, and comparisons to a legend that dominated this weeks news cycle and handed over the trophy as tournament host are even less so.And yet, there was Hideki Matsuyama, just minutes removed from winning the Hero World Challenge for his fourth worldwide title in his past five starts, trying to deflect any comparison to the winning ways Tiger Woods once brought to the game.Im not even close to being mentioned in the same sentence as Tiger, he acknowledged through an interpreter, but I am working hard and hopefully, little by little, Ill get better and better.Lets not lose the plot here: Matsuyama isnt the next Woods, wont be the next Woods and shouldnt be held to the standard of serving as the next Woods. That goes not only for him, but each of the games elite 20-something players -- from Rory McIlroy to Jordan Spieth to Jason Day.Its noteworthy, though, that Matsuyama has joined those players and others on the list of guys who can at least put on a pretty strong Tiger impersonation on any given week.He entered Sundays round leading by a whopping 7 strokes, and while many observers will only recall Woods dominance during his prime years, there were plenty of occasions when he simply played final-round defense, parlaying a wide 54-hole margin into a victory that looked relatively close on the final leaderboard, but not on the course.Matsuyama isnt that type of finisher -- nobody is -- which might explain his final-round, 1-over 73 that relied on a brilliant chip shot from behind the 18th green to save par in order to secure the 2-stroke triumph over Henrik Stenson.Already a three-time PGA Tour champion at age 24, including last months WGC-HSBC Champions tournament -- Matsuyama is learning to win right before our eyes.It undoubtedly has something to do with an increased comfort level while playing on the U.S.-based circuit. Ever since a 27th-place finish as an amateur at the Masters Tournament five years ago, Matsuyama has often been followed by a large media contingent from his native Japan. Even without a language barrier, hes preternaturally shy, previously unaccustomed to being the center of attention.As one Japanese reporter said during his Memorial Tournament victory two years ago, He doesnt speak much English, but he doesnt speak much Japanese, either.There has been a learning curve in living in that spotlight.When I first turned pro and came to the PGA Tour, the Japanese media would ask me questions after every round, whether I played good or bad, he said. At first, it was difficult for me and I felt a lot of pressure, but then I learned that talking with the media is just part of my job as a professional golfer. Once I realized that, it became easier and I didnt feel that pressure.His responses to questions about himself and the state of his game are much like those of any other elite-level golfer these days. He doesnt allow much, but says all the right things.On perhaps already being the greatest golfer from Japan: Theres been some great golfers in Japan. Just to name a few, Jumbo Ozaki, Isao Aoki, Shigeki Maruyama, Tsuneyuki Nakajima. And to be able to follow in their footsteps is a great honor. And then to come to the PGA Tour and learn from really the best golfers in the world, its really helped my game. Im grateful for all of their help. But to answer your question, Im not the greatest golfer from Japan.On whether he expected to win so many events in such a short time: Im very surprised at these last five events and I just hope I can keep it going.On trying to win his first major championship: Starting next week, all my focus and preparation will be for the Masters. Hopefully, along the way I can play well on the PGA Tour, but the Masters is my next goal.Matsuyama told a little story after his Sunday win, too. The first time he ever watched Woods was that 1997 Masters victory. He was 5 years old then, and he videotaped the broadcast so he could watch it over and over.Hes certainly not the next Tiger Woods. Nobody is. But the way Matsuyama has been winning -- and the way he won this tournament on Sunday -- certainly served as a reminder of the guy who handed him the trophy.Florida Panthers Store . Varlamov made 33 saves and Ryan OReilly had a goal and scored in the shootout as the Avalanche beat the New Jersey Devils 2-1 on Thursday night. Panthers Jerseys 2021 . Datsyuk will miss Tuesdays game against New Jersey and could be sidelined longer, while Cleary will likely miss at least the next three games. Its been an injury-plagued season for Datsyuk, who has suited up for just 39 games. https://www.panthersjerseycheap.com/ . -- When the Florida Panthers fell behind by two goals in the first period to the top team in the NHL, it appeared they were on their way to yet another loss. Panthers Jerseys 2020 . Hazard cut in from the left and scored with a swerving right-footed shot for ninth goal of the season, which proved to be enough for the victory despite Chelseas forwards again lacking a cutting edge up front. Florida Panthers Gear . -- Ryan Getzlaf grabbed the three pucks wrapped in tape and held them up to his chest in the Anaheim Ducks dressing room for a celebration nine seasons in the making.Following three in-house promotions, the?Utah Jazz?have established?who will be assisting head coach Quin Snyder during the upcoming season in a release posted on? Monday.Assistant coach Igor Kokoskov will be moving to the front of the bench. The 2016-17 season will be Kokoskovs second with the Jazz and his 16th as an NBA assistant coach. Kokoskovs NBA résumé includes time with the?Orlando Magic, Cleveland Cavaliers, Phoenix Suns, Detroit Pistons and?LA Clippers. While with Detroit, he reached the Eastern Conference finals six times,?made two NBA Finals appearances and secured an NBA title in 2004. Before he began his NBA career, Kokoskov?was an assistant to?Snyder at the University of Missouri. He is also the current head coach of the Slovenia mens national basketball team.?Zach Guthrie has been promoted to the assistant coach/basketball strategy after joining the Jazz staff as the manager of basketball strategy/technology before?the 2015-16 season. Prior to joining the Utah staff, Guthrie spent three years with the?Magic as their manager of advanced scouting. Before his time with Orlando, he spent two sseasons with the?San Antonio Spurs?and earned the role of?assistant video coordinator.dddddddddddd Guthrie began his NBA career as a basketball operations intern with the then-Austin Toros of the NBA Development League in 2007, where he worked closely under?Snyder, who was the Toros head coach at the time.?Lamar Skeeter will now operate as the assistant coach/player development after spending the past two seasons as a player development/video analyst with the team. Skeeter joined the Jazz staff in 2014 after a season serving as the player development/video intern for the?Atlanta Hawks. Prior to his?stint with the Hawks, he spent a season as the basketball operations intern for the Canton Charge of the?Development League under current Jazz assistant coach Alex Jensen.In addition to Kokoskov, Guthrie, Skeeter and Jensen, also returning to the Jazz are Johnnie Bryant, Antonio Lang, Jeff Watkinson and Mike Wells.Snyder is entering his third season as head coach.?-- Sarah Scrivens ' ' '