By Rahul Banerji
Hideki Matsuyama duly closed out Augusta Masters week for a history-making win, but not before being tested till virtually the very last hole on Sunday.
Leading by four shots overnight, the 29-year-old returned with a 1-over 73 which was enough to give him a one-shot cushion over Masters debutant Will Zalatoris.
Matsuyama thus becomes the first male Asian champion at the Masters and the second Major winner from the continent after Taiwan’s Y.E. Yang at the 2009 PGA Championship.
Asked if his win would finally set him apart from other Japanese greats like Isao Aoki, Jumbo Ozaki, Tommy Nakajima, Shigeki Maruyama and Shingo Katayama, Matsuyama said: “I can’t say I’m the greatest.
“However, I’m the first to win a Major, and if that’s the bar, then I’ve set it.”
He is one of a handful to grace the winners’ circle both as amateur and professional (2011 and 2021) alongside the likes of Tiger Woods (1995 and 2019) and Sergio Garcia (1999 and 2017).
Others to have done the double include Cary Middlecoff, Jack Nicklaus, Ben Crenshaw and Phil Mickelson
Matsuyama’s 10-under 278 (69-71-65-73) put him one ahead of Zalatoris (70-68-71-70, and two up on 2015 Masters winner Jordan Speith (71-68-72-70, 281) and Xander Schauffele (72-69-68-72, 281).
New dad Jon Rahm (72-72-72-66, 282) and Australia’s Marc Leishman (72-67-70-73, 282) completed the top six.
Augusta double
Back in 2011, Matsuyama was a late acceptance at Augusta National. He finished as the low amateur and watched Mickelson slip the green jacket on Charl Schwartzel.
On Sunday, he was the recipient of the jacket, from 2020 winner Dustin Johnson in Butler Cabin.
“I’m really happy,” Matsuyama said through long-time interpreter Bob Turner.
“My nerves really didn’t start on the second nine. It was right from the start today and right to the very last putt.
“Hopefully I’ll be a pioneer in this and many other Japanese will follow. I’m glad to be able to open the floodgates.”
The win was Japan’s third in a Major behind Hisako Higuchi at the 1977 LPGA Championship, and Hinako Shibuno at the 2019 Women’s British Open.
It also followed the Augusta National Women’s Amateur last week which 17-year-old country-woman Tsubasa Kajitani won to set the tone for what was to follow.
Sunday’s win gave Matsuyama his first PGA Tour title since August 2017 and the sixth overall. His previous best at a Major was joint runner-up at the 2017 U. Open.
Slow start
Matsuyama opened with bogey against Zalatoris’ fast start which featured birdies in the first two holes and saw his lead cut to one stroke early on.
However birdies on holes 2, 8 and 9 saw the Japanese make the turn with a five-shot cushion.
Carrying the expectation of a golf-crazy country Matsuyama then dropped four shots including three over his closing four holes, but safely two-putted from six feet for a closing bogey as Zalatoris failed to bridge the gap.
Once the magnitude of his breakthrough had sunk in, he raised his hands in jubilation and shed tears of joy while walking back to the clubhouse.
“My plan this morning was to wake up about 9:30. But I arose much earlier than that and couldn’t go back to sleep,” Matsuyama said.
“So I came to the golf course early. Had a really good warm-up. I felt really good going to the first tee, until I stood on the first tee.
“Then it hit me that I’m in the last group of the Masters Tournament and I’m the leader by four strokes. And then I was really nervous.
“But I caught myself, and the plan was just go out and do my best for 18 holes.
“And so that was my thought throughout day, just keep doing my best. It’s been a struggle recently. This year, no top-10s, haven’t even contended. So I came to Augusta with little or no expectations.
“But as the week progressed, as I practiced, especially on Wednesday, I felt something again. I found something in my swing. And when that happens, the confidence returns.”
Big thrill
Asked how it would be to take the green jacket back home, Matsuyama added: “I can’t imagine what it’s going to be like, but what a thrill and honour it will be for me to take the green jacket back to Japan.
“I’m really looking forward to it,” said Matsuyama, whose victory took him up to seventh place on the latest FedEx Cup standings.
“I hope it will affect golf in Japan in a good way. Not only those who are golfers already, but hopefully the youngsters who are playing golf or thinking about playing golf,
“I hope they will see this victory and think it’s cool and try to follow in my footsteps.
“With me doing it, that will set an example for them that it is possible and that, if they set their mind to it, they can do it, too.”
Korea’s Si Woo Kim closed with a final round 72 to finish T12 on 286 to earn a return trip next year’s Masters.
Also read: Matsuyama-san is the man in the van at Augusta Masters
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