Hideki Matsuyama won the Augusta National Golf Club Masters on Sunday by becoming Japan’s first player to win a major men’s championship.
Matsuyama finished once ahead of American debutant Will Zalatoris after carding four birdies and five bogies to get a final round score of 73 and 10 minors over the four days.
He started the last round 11 with a four-time lead over four players: Englishman Justin Rose, Australian Marc Leishman and Americans Xander Schauffele and Zalatoris.
Matsuyama survived a few late slips and a decided challenge again behind Schauffele, who finished 7 years old, to claim the iconic green jacket dramatically.
Japanese Hideki Matsuyama reacts after winning the Masters tournament on April 11, 2021 at the Augusta National Golf Club in Augusta, Georgia. Matsuyama became Japan’s first player to win a major men’s championship. (Kyodo) == Kyodo
Schauffele, 27, carded four birdies in a row before his challenge ended with a triple bogey on par-3 16th.
“I felt nervous from the beginning of the day to the end,” Matsuyama said. “I was thinking about (my family) all the time. I’m very happy to be able to play well for them.”
Matsuyama recovered from an opening hole with birds in the second, eighth and ninth. He extended his lead to six shots in the back nine, but left the door open for Schauffele when he touched the water going down the green in two at par-5 15.
After the fourth bird followed by Schauffele, the lead was reduced to two shots with three to play, but the American’s nightmare in the 16th hole ensured the victory of Matsuyama, 29.
Matsuyama landed in the bunker on the 18th, but made his way to the green to give himself two putts to win the title in his tenth appearance in the tournament.
“Until last week I hadn’t even been in the top ten (of the tour) or played a title this year. I had no expectations, but on Wednesday’s practice my shots started to feel good again. and I started thinking I could have a chance, ”Matsuyama said.
The native of Ehime prefecture, on Shikoku Island, said he hoped to lead the way for other Japanese golfers to win majors.
Hideki Matsuyama (R) of Japan greets his caddy on the 18th green after Matsuyama won the Masters Tournament on April 11, 2021 at the Augusta National Golf Club in Augusta, Georgia. Matsuyama became Japan’s first player to win a major men’s championship. (Kyodo) == Kyodo
“Hopefully I will be a pioneer and many other Japanese will follow,” he said.
“I will be very happy if my victory here inspires the kids who watch TV to reach this stage in five or ten years and compete against me. For that reason, I want to keep winning.”
Zalatoris, 24, played two groups against Matsuyama, was bidding to become the first player since Fuzzy Zoeller in 1979 to win the Masters on his debut.
He watched two of his last four holes to score a final round of 70 and missed a playoff with Matsuyama for just one shot.
Tiger Woods, a five-time green jacket winner, was among the golf lights to congratulate Matsuyama on his victory.
In a Twitter post, Woods acknowledged the importance of the outcome for both Matsuyama’s home country and the world of golf.
“Making Japan proud of Hideki. Congratulations on such a huge success for you and your country. This historic victory (Masters) will impact the entire golf world,” he tweeted to Woods.
Making Japan proud of Hideki. Congratulations on such a huge success for you and your country. This historic @TheMasters winning will impact the entire golf world.
– Tiger Woods (@TigerWoods) April 11, 2021
Japan Golf Tour president Isao Aoki, a longtime member of the PGA Tour, praised Matsuyama for his hard work, saying the victory was a dream come true for Japanese golf fans.
“All golf fans in the country have been waiting a long time for this moment. It must have taken blood, sweat and tears to become Masters champion. I hope he continues with that heart, patience and skill,” Aoki said.
Yasuhiko Abe, who coached golfer Hideki Matsuyama during his years at Tohoku Fukushi University, is holding special newspaper editions with the Matsuyama Masters victory as he speaks at a press conference in Sendai, northeastern Japan, on April 12, 2021. (Kyodo) == Kyodo
Matsuyama is the second golfer from an Asian country to win the men’s category after winning the South Korean YE Yang Championship in 2009.
Five-time PGA Tour winner and eight-time Japan Golf Tour winner, Matsuyama debuted the Masters a decade ago as an amateur. Just weeks after the university city of Sendai was hit by the March 11 earthquake and tsunami disaster, Matsuyama ended in a draw for the 27th as the tournament’s lowest fan.
Japanese Hideki Matsuyama makes a speech after winning the Masters tournament on April 11, 2021 at the Augusta National Golf Club in Augusta, Georgia. (Kyodo) == Kyodo
Two women from Japan have won majors: Hisako Higuchi at the 1977 LPGA Championship and Hinako Shibuno at the 2019 British Women’s Open.
Matsuyama’s victory completes a two-week auspicious period for the club’s iconic Japanese golfers after compatriot Tsubasa Kajitani won the Augusta National Amateur Women’s Championship on April 3rd.
Looking to the future, Matsuyama wants to win a gold medal for Japan at home this summer at the Tokyo Olympics, which have been postponed for a year due to the coronavirus pandemic.
“If they are held (the Olympics), I want to aim for gold. I think my experience today will serve me for that purpose,” he said.
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