On Saturday, I wrote a story about how former number one WTA star Naomi Osaka almost couldn’t play this week’s tennis tournament in Cincinnati, Ohio because United Airlines lost her luggage.
Today, another star athlete is in the news with yet another travel-related story. Former PGA number two player in the world, Hideki Matsuyama, was just a victim of a robbery in the United Kingdom. Matsuyama, his caddie Shota Hayato, and coach Mikihito Kuromiya, were on their way to Tennessee after winning the bronze medal at the Summer Olympics in Paris.
According to Golf Digest Japan, “Matsuyama and his support staff encountered the incident in London, a stopover just before heading to the US after their fierce battle in France. The caddie and coach, who were forced to return to Japan temporarily, are rushing to have their passports reissued and their visas reissued, but the earliest they can travel to the US is just before the final tournament, the Tour Championship (East Lake GC, Georgia) in two weeks. Matsuyama said, “There’s a chance they’ll make it, but we have to go into it thinking it’s close to zero.”
Matsuyama was fortunate that he just lost his wallet and not his passport. But unfortunately, the same can’t be said for his caddie and coach. It’s not clear exactly how or where it happened but it sounds like it was in the airport, presumably Heathrow.
Whether it happened in the airport or in the city, this just goes to show how vulnerable travelers are – no matter how well-traveled they are, which obviously all three are. I’ve written countless tips explaining how sneaky and aggressive thieves are and below are just a couple examples of thieves in London (but it happens everywhere):
@itsgoneviral It took him 40 seconds #londoncrime #theftlondon #londonrobbed #thief ♬ Frolic (Theme from “Curb Your Enthusiasm” TV Show) – Luciano Michelini
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Matsuyama’s incident also shows how much of a hassle and how costly losing your passport can be. Unfortunately, I know this firsthand when my then-girlfriend, now-wife lost hers while we were on a bike riding excursion in Estonia while on a Seabourn Cruise. Here’s her harrowing story.
I can understand a city like Tallinn (Estonia) not having a full embassy to replace your passport but I’m surprised Matsuyama’s caddie and coach couldn’t get a replacement in London. Instead, they had to make a trek halfway around the world to get a new passport and jump on another long-haul flight back to the United States in hopes of making Matsuyama’s next tournament. He’s hoping they can make it this weekend for the PGA Tour playoff series in Memphis but he’s hoping they can make it to next week’s BMW Championship in Castle Rock, Colorado.
KEEP READING:
–12 passport tips that will save you time, money and headaches
–The most important thing I do when I travel internationally is …
–Rick Steves got pickpocketed in Paris: Here’s what he wants you to know
–The most important thing for travelers to do according to a safety expert
–What you need to know about renewing or getting an emergency passport in the U.S.
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