The Japanese golfer completed forward of Will Zalatoris in second to declare his first major. He shot a closing spherical 73 to end with a rating of 10 below par, one shot forward of the American runner-up.
The 29-year-old was bunched amongst his rivals earlier than an hour-long climate delay on Saturday earlier than he catapulted himself into the lead in the third spherical with some scintillating golf.
In the all vital fourth spherical on Sunday, Matsuyama held off early assessments from Zalatoris and a late push from Xander Schauffele, through which each gamers discovered the water, earlier than guiding himself to victory.
In successful the well-known golf event, Matsuyama grew to become the first Japanese man to win a golf major and ended an nearly four-year winless drought.
As is custom, final 12 months’s winner Dustin Johnson — who failed to make the minimize this 12 months after struggling his personal struggles — offered Matsuyama along with his Green Jacket which etched him into Masters and {golfing} folklore.
Sitting alongside Johnson and his translator in Butler Cabin, the place champions obtain their Green Jackets, Matsuyama expressed his happiness that he may blaze a path for different future Japanese golfers.
“I’m really happy,” he mentioned. “My nerves really didn’t start on the second nine. It was right from the start today and right to the very last putt. I was thinking about (my family) all the way round today and I’m really happy I played well for them. Hopefully I’ll be a pioneer and many other Japanese people will follow. I’m glad to be able to open the flood gates hopefully and many more will follow me.”
The path to victory
Justin Rose’s good opening spherical stole the headlines on Thursday — however Matsuyama was only a few pictures behind.
Friday was a troublesome day with the winds swirling and the greens quick, however on Saturday, the Japanese golfer put his pedal to the steel.
With Rose stuttering, inclement climate compelled play to be stopped for about an hour, after which Matsuyama hit his straps.
In the closing eight holes, he hit 4 birdies, an eagle and no bogeys to storm right into a four-shot lead with simply 18 holes remaining.
Zalatoris, the teenager who impressed in his debut Masters, briefly diminished the deficit to one shot earlier than Matsuyama discovered his groove from Saturday, birdying the eighth and ninth to prolong his lead.
Although his lead was at one level six, some battling golf from American Schauffele diminished the hole to simply 4. And the lead additional diminished after a dramatic 15th gap the place Matsuyama’s second shot discovered the water.
His bogey and Schauffele’s birdie diminished the hole between the prime two to simply two pictures with three holes remaining.
But with the strain using on his shoulders, Schauffele discovered the water on the par-three 16th, finally ending with a triple-bogey, successfully ending his hopes of a maiden major victory.
And in the closing two holes, Matsuyama confirmed poise and composure — moreover a rogue iron shot right into a bunker on the 18th that had nerves jangling — that belied his major expertise to maintain off the problem and make historical past.
“I have no idea how I’m feeling, I am speechless,” he mentioned in his post-round press convention. “To come one shot short is motivating but for it to come at the Masters where I have been coming since I was nine years old is exciting. I will come back next year and hopefully go one better.”
Matsuyama’s earlier finest was at the US Open in 2017
His earlier finest at a major got here at the US Open in 2017, when he tied second behind Brooks Koepka.
While Matsuyama grew to become the first Japanese man to win a golf major, two of his feminine counterparts have already recorded that achievement.
Hinako Shibuno received the Women’s British Open in 2019 whereas Chako Higuchi received at the 1977 LPGA Championship.
Matsuyama’s victory on Sunday completes an especially profitable few weeks for Japan and its golf gamers at Augusta.
Eight days in the past, Tsubasa Kajitani received the Augusta National Women’s Amateur.
Five-time Masters champion Tiger Woods congratulated Matsuyama on his momentous achievement.
Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga additionally congratulated Hideki Matsuyama, calling his win “wonderful.”
“With the prolonged COVID-19 pandemic, he’s given courage and inspiration to all Japanese people,” Suga mentioned in a press release Monday native time.
“He has become the first Japanese person to win the Masters and first to win a major championship. He is the first one in Japan and also in whole Asia. I think it’s amazing.”
CNN’s Mai Nishiyama contributed to this report.
