Japan has a new Rising Son and it is Green Jacket-wearing, 2021 Masters champion Hideki Matsuyama.
Sunday at the 85th Masters was an emotional roller-coaster ride for the 29-year-old Japanese star as he became the first male Asian player to win one of golf’s major championships.
“I’m really happy,” he said as he sat in the Butler Cabin, waiting for 2020 champion Dustin Johnson to slip the iconic Green Jacket on the man who has the entire nation of Japan rejoicing over his thrilling victory.
An understatement, no doubt.
This one didn’t look like it would be a thriller. Matsuyama got off to a rough start with a wild tee shot that led to a first-hole bogey but after that he settled in and by the time he walked off the ninth green, he was 13-under par and took a hefty five-shot lead into the back nine after eventual runner-up Will Zelatoris made bogey at the 10th.
Hideki’s lead inflated to six shots after he parred 10 and 11 and Zelatoris missed a four-footer for par at the short but dangerous 12th.
With the hopes of a nation on his shoulders, Matsuyama went bogey-birdie at 12 and 13 to remain at 13-under. But just when it looked like an easy walk to the Green Jacket, golf began to happen. Xander Schauffele, who stumbled around the front nine and turned in one-over, started a birdie run at the 12th, then added two more at 13 and 14 to get to nine-under and within four shots of his playing partner, Matsuyama.
The 15th made it even tighter as Schauffele made it four straight birdies while Matsuyama’s second came in hot, went over the green and into the water behind. He made bogey, fell back to 12-under and it was a two-shot ball game with three holes to play.
But Schauffele took himself out of it when he hit an eight-iron that was short and too far left at the 16th. It hit the fringe, bounced left and into the water. It became a nightmare as he walked off with a triple-bogey six to Matsuyama’s bogey.
A par at 17 and a perfect drive at 18 gave Matsuyama breathing room and although he finished with a five, it was all he needed for a closing 73 and a 10-under par total that nipped Zelatoris by a shot and launched the celebration parties in Japan.
It was 10 years exactly since he was in the Butler Cabin as a 19-year-old who won low amateur honors in 2011.
“I’m really happy I played well for them,” he said of the golf fans in his home country and there are millions of them and most of the 127 million Japanese follow their stars in all sports.
“My nerves were (there) right from the start and until the last putt,” Hideki admitted. He said his most important shot was the perfect drive at 18 that set up his long uphill walk to victory.
“Hopefully I’ll be a pioneer and many more Japanese will follow me,” he said, hoping to be an inspiration to young hopeful golfers back home.
He was all smiles as tried on his Green Jacket for the first time.
And back home, you can just imagine an entire country ready to say:
“Domo Arigato, Hideki-san!”
85th Masters Final Scoreboard:
8 Comments
RM
Several interesting story lines.
Maybe it’s no big deal, but in these troubled times, I confess it boosted my spirits a bit to see DJ, after missing the cut, be there with a big smile to present the green jacket to Hideki.
Tom Edrington
RM: He had no choice, tradition requires him to be there to put the jacket on the new champion; His performance Friday afternoon was very disappointing.
baxter cepeda
Man we always know it will be amaze but we just don’t know how, huh?
Rewatching his rounds Hideki could have easily been on that long list of big names shell shocked by Thursday conditions playing like a Sunday.
Rose and the failing big names got the attention because the chasers were who?
Meanwhile hideki quietly putted better than ever; he made 4 straight tough par putts at one point and made an eagle day 1. He was putting better than ever.
Another eagle Friday for hideki as he continued to put himself in position for that iconic Saturday.
But of course we were still watching Rose; I was rooting big time for him; and a sudden list of top name chasers led by JT and Spieth.
Then Saturday came. Hidekis shots at 15 and 16 are as good as We have ever seen at the masters.
Sure it was soft after the delay Saturday; but literally no one else adjusted. Matsuyama had a third straight day with an eagle at the masters. And more importantly he continued making those par putts we still didn’t believe he could make.
He didn’t get an eagle sunday. But man 6 under for 3 holes helped even more than spieths 4 birdies at 10; which is quite mind blowing.
Credit to Xander and zalatoris for making Hideki earn it. Everyone at home had to be reminded this thing is never easy to end early. Just ask Norman, McIlroy, even spieth. And many others.
Hidekis second at 15 was almost the start of that moment. But he handled it well.
Xander’s tee shot at 16 was crushing but appreciated because he was playing to win; even if it upsets the second place clutch club.
And yea zalatoris is a 150 pound soaking wet beast. We fully get it now.
But again the biggest surprise for me is that hideki Quietly turned in a Masterful putting performance. Who knew. He knew. His team knew. And that’s it.
No one knew because hideki is a genius at avoiding distractions. As Adam Scott said, he probably speaks more English than he lets on.
While most guys are spending too much time learning they spend too much time on social media distractions; hideki looks like he is living on a desert island; leaving us wondering if he is on a spectrum somewhere.
No need read books about social distractions; hideki can write those books. But Hideki is too obsessed with his game to do that.
Living in his own bubble despite all the Japanese media efforts to distract their rising Sun is the advantage that made all the difference.
Hidekis caddies beautiful bow to the course went viral as it put a bow on a historic week for Japan at the Masters.
This place truly never seizes to amaze.
Cant wait for what is has in store next for us.
Tom Edrington
Always my favorite major, always will be; Getting ready for a little “Aftermath” rewind. Someone always wins the Masters but there are also a cast of players who “lose it” and Xander Scauffele did, two three putts and a missed four-and-a-half footer by Will Zalatoris at 12th kept the Green Jacket off his shoulders….he was the only guy who stepped up early. Schauffele basically blew it on the front nine; And, oh by the way, where was Patrick Cantlay, I know you were stabbing me over my lack of belief that he’d even be a factor.
baxter cepeda
Yea well you see wha ha happen was…Cantlay and Berger were on that long list of great players whom stunk it up.
Thursday being tougher than most Sundays and Friday being softer than most mondays destroyed most everyone’s psyche including my boy Cantlay.
But My major outlook on Cantlay and Berger was more long term. They will both likely win majors imo but as with hideki, they may have to wait their turns.
Playing one type of shot is in vogue as Cantlay discussed; but Berger needs something other than the ball moving hard right imo.
Patrick has a more complete game. I may go back and watch how cantlay made such a mess this week.
As for Xander and zalatoris It’s always easy to pick on the guys whom hung in there the longest. I always admire the guys whom did not pack it in early; as so many of the guys did this year especially. Xander has another crushing close call to deal with but he clearly still has crazy guts.
Zalatoris has game and had the nothing to lose mentality all week. As was discussed it will be interesting to see what he does with high expectations like Xander has been dealing with for years now; not to mention hideki.
At this point there is no argument: Augusta National is by far the best course (they are the only track constantly improving itself) and by far the Masters are the greatest tournament in the world (ditto on the improving themselves).
The pga champ is basically a regular event (so is the players btw); the us open has constant issues, so the closest is the Open but still not even close. I want to see more rough at the Opens. It’s a little too fair Imo.
Tom Edrington
Baxter, I can tell you this, the PGA at the Ocean Course at Kiawah will be NO REGULAR event…..that’s a big boy course and if the wind blows, look out! As for Xander, that wasn’t crazy guts at 16, it was a ridiculously bad decision….as for Cantlay and Berger, I think there’s enough talent in front of them to out-play them most of the time in the big events.
baxter cepeda
Yes Kiawah is a great one for them. The May date may help the pga champs identity.
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Let’s credit xander was the last man testing hideki on 16 tee; albeit 2 down. Even zalatoris was done at that point. Xander was a yard or so from landing on the green and skipping up for a tap in. He played to win. Xander said it best; he needs some fades he can trust in the biggest moments; which he’s often in.
Tom Edrington
A yard or so? A lot of players have missed winning majors by a yard or so….this is a game of micro-inches…