By Rahul Banerji
Japanese rookie Ryo Hisatsune was in dreamland after receiving one of three special invitations to compete in the Masters Tournament at Augusta National this April.
The 21-year-old, along with Denmark’s Thorbjorn Olesen and Chile’s :IV Golf star Joaquin Neimann, will join countryman and 2021 Masters winner, Hideki Matsuyama in the 88th edition of the year’s first major.
“Yesterday, I got a phone call and I was like wondering what is this number? It was amazing the call came from Augusta National, who said they were making this big announcement for me,” Hisatsune said.
“Hideki has won the title and I really wanted to play in the Masters too. It’s like my dream has come true.” Hisatsune told the PGA Tour.
On Wednesday, ANGC chairman Fred Ridley announced the three invitations,
“The Masters tournament has a long-standing tradition of inviting leading international players who are not otherwise qualified,” Ridley said.
“Today’s announcement represents the tournament’s continued commitment towards developing interest in the game of golf across the world. We look forward to welcoming each player to Augusta National this spring.”
Milestones
When he enters the Augusta National Golf Club, it will be another milestone in Hisatsune’s career.
After starting out in Japan where he won three times on the development tour, Hisatsune earned his DP World Tour card through Q School at the end of 2022 and later became only the third Japanese winner with a breakthrough triumph at the French Open last year.
With seven other top-10s, he earned his PGA Tour card through the DP World Tour Top-10 and was later named the Sir Henry Cotton Rookie of the Year, the first Japanese to earn the accolade.
He has made four starts on the PGA Tour so far this season, with a best of T11 at The American Express.
“This (Masters) is the tournament I’ve wanted play the most and I’m extremely honoured to have received the special exemption from the Masters, I’m having trouble controlling my excitement.
“I used to watch the Masters every year and I was determined to appear at the event. I always used the final round broadcast as a motivation.
“I’m really happy I will get to play there this year. I will talk to the other Senpai (senior players) who have played Augusta and prepare well,” he said.
Advance plans
Hisatsune is planning to seek a practice round at Augusta National with Matsuyama, who returned to winning ways with a record ninth PGA Tour title at The Genesis Invitational.
Like many others back home, Hisatsune was glued to his TV during the 2021 Masters where Matsuyama secured an historic triumph by becoming the first Japanese to win the prestigious tournament and don the green jacket.
“I was watching it on TV and in Japan, it was very early in the morning and I woke up at 3 am to watch and then Hideki won. I was so excited and I was moved.
“Now, I get a chance to compete on the same stage,” said Hisatsune, who learned to play the game when he was three years old and is currently world-ranked 78th.
Dream stage
“It’s truly a dream stage. I’ve heard it’s a course with a lot of ups and downs and steep slopes, and I’m looking forward to tapping on the knowledge of my seniors and enjoying the special week with my team.”
Meanwhile, with the inclusion of Neimann and David Puig having qualified via the Malaysian Open, LIV Golf will be well-represented at Augusta National.
The others who are among the 83 named so far include Bubba Watson, Cameron Smith, Charl Schwartzel, Partick Reed, Jon Rahm, Phil Mickelson, Brooks Koepka, Dustin Johnson Tyrell Hatton, Sergio Garcia, and Bryson DeChambeau.
Initial list
Rookie Adrian Meronk was also on the initial list though his name and that of Puig does not appear among 83 formally announced so far for the 88th edition of the Masters.
The ANGC said, “Olesen will compete in his fourth Masters and his first since 2019. He made the cut in each of his three previous appearances at Augusta National, including a T6 in his Tournament debut in 2013.
“Last month, Olesen, 34, won in the UAE, marking his third consecutive DP World Tour season with a victory. He has five top-10s in his last seven worldwide appearances.
“Hisatsune will make his debut in the Masters this April. In November, he became the first Japanese player to be voted the DP World Tour’s Rookie of the Year.
“The 21-year-old concluded the 2023 DP World Tour season ranked no. 10 following a campaign that included a French Open victory last September. Hisatsune’s recent highlights include a T8 at the Australian Open in December and a T11 in Palm Springs last month.
“Niemann, 25, is set to appear in his fifth Masters, where he has made the cut in three of his first four tournaments, including a career-best T16 in 2023.
“He has top-five finishes in each of his three DP World Tour starts this season, including winning the Australian Open in a playoff last December. Niemann’s first Masters came in 2018 while he was the reigning Latin America Amateur champion and the no. 1 ranked amateur in the world.”
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