Matsuyama hopes to inspire the next generation
AT every Major championship in recent years, the game’s top stars were guaranteed to be asked a certain question in their pre-tournament press conference.
“Do you think Hideki Matsuyama can win a Major?” the likes of Tiger Woods, Dustin Johnson or Rory Mcilroy would be asked by a Japanese journalist, Matsuyama’s star status in his home country ensuring he had been “drawn” in a high-profile group to suit TV schedules.
Whether out of politeness or inside knowledge of Matsuyama’s talent, the answer was always yes but, following his victory in the 85th Masters, the question will have to undergo a subtle, but important, change.
Can golf’s reticent star win more Majors after making his breakthrough at Augusta National on the back of a stunning third round of 65, when he covered the back nine in just 30 shots after spending a 78-minute weather delay playing games on his mobile phone?
Anyone expecting bold predictions from the man himself will be disappointed, however; the 29-year-old admitting talking to the large Japanese media contingent who usually follow his every move is “not my favourite thing todo”.
Asked if he now considered himself Japan’s greatest player, Matsuyama said: “I can’t say I’m the greatest. However, I’m the first (male player) to win a Major and if that’s the bar, then I’ve set it.
“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 thinking about playing golf, I hope they will see this victory and think it’s cool and try to follow in my footsteps.
“Up until now, we haven’t had a (male) Major champion in Japan and maybe a lot of golfers or younger golfers, too, thought, well, maybe that’s an impossibility. But with me doing it, hopefully 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.
“It’s thrilling to think that there are a lot of youngsters in Japan watching. Hopefully in five, 10 years, when they get a little older, hopefully some of them will be competing on the world stage. But I still have a lot of years left, so they are going to have to compete against me still.”
Matsuyama’s victory is certainly well timed with the postponed Tokyo Olympics four months away, although the World No.14 did not sound overly enthused about the mooted prospect of lighting the Olympic flame.
“It would be quite an honour,” Matsuyama added. “But I’m not sure about my schedule. If the schedules worked out and I am in Japan when that happens and they ask me, what an honour that would be.
“I’m really looking forward to the Olympic Games in Tokyo. If I am on the team, and maybe it looks like I will be, I’ll do my best to represent my country and hopefully I’ll play well.”
Meanwhile, Open champion Shane Lowry believes he needs to take a more disciplined approach to Augusta National to have a chance to win the Masters in the future.
Lowry’s tie for 21st on Sunday was his best finish in six starts in the year’s first Major, but the 34-year-old Irishman was disappointed to follow an impressive 71 in the toughest conditions of the week with rounds of 73, 72 and 72.
“When you get it on a day like today (Sunday), you just really need to be ultra-conservative and you will get your chances,” said Lowry, who was two-under after eight holes before three-putting the ninth and finding water off the tee on the 12th.
“The likes of 12 for me, I really, really just should have got it in my head to hit it left of the hole over that bunker. Jack (Nicklaus) always says (play) over that bunker, no matter where the flag is.
“But the way golf is played now, I have a hard time aiming away from flags sometimes. That’s why I think I haven’t really done too well around here because I struggle to be conservative.
“I struggle to aim away from flags. I just need to be a little more disciplined when I come back next year.”