HIDEKI’S MASTERS MAGIC WAS JUST THE TONIC FOR THESE TRYING TIMES
AUGUSTA DEBRIEF NICK METCALFE REFLECTS ON A MASTERS WHERE HIDEKI MATSUYAMA MADE HISTORY BUT GOLF’S BIGGEST STARS FAILED TO SHINE
MORE TO COME FROM THE NEARLY MAN
WHAT a wonderful success for Hideki Matsuyama. And what a moment for golf to treasure – the first Japanese winner of a men’s major.
This was not one of those Masters that started with the back nine on Sunday. It was really the back nine on Saturday when Matsuyama paved the way for this historic triumph. He played those nine holes in just 30 shots, six under par, to give himself a four-shot lead going into the final round.
That always looked like being enough. True, there were a few nerves around on the final day, especially when Matsuyama recklessly found water with a wild second shot on the 15th. But others in the chasing pack made mistakes too, and the 29-year-old was first to the finish line.
Who’s to say how many more majors will now follow? Remember, Matsuyama finished in the top ten seven times out of 19 majors between 2013 and 2017. This could easily be described as an overdue success.
What a timely boost too for golf at a Tokyo Olympics that frankly could do with all the good news stories it can find right now.
MAC HAS X-BOX FACTOR
I loved Robert MacIntyre saying how well he had fared at a course he had previously ‘only played on computer games with my pals’.
There was a touch of Boy’s Own about the 24-year-old (pictured) from Oban at Augusta actually. His overall score of two under to finish in a tie for 12th, guaranteeing his Masters place for next year, was a quite brilliant effort.
What was perhaps most encouraging was to see his reactions on the course. This was not a young man gazing around at his hallowed surroundings, just drinking it in. There was such a focus and intensity to his work. And often disappointment too – he gave the impression of someone who felt like he left some shots out there still. All very promising indeed.
TOUGH TO MASTER
There was an inevitable focus on Rory McIlroy’s struggles at Augusta. And not without good reason – to watch the Northern Irishman was a painful experience at times, so visibly ill at ease is he right now.
But it wasn’t just McIlroy. World No.1 Dustin Johnson also missed the cut. Who saw that coming? Many fancied the American to repeat November’s victory. Brooks Koepka did not make the weekend either. Bryson DeChambeau did, but finished well adrift at five over.
It should remind us all how bloody tough it is to win these special golf tournaments. Jack Nicklaus and Tiger Woods may have made it look easy, but it really isn’t. Not for ordinary mortals anyway. Every one is pure blood, sweat and tears.
EVENT LIKE NO OTHER
It sounds like a cliche when we say Augusta is the true star of the show, but time and time again it proves to be the case.
It was a welcome tonic when the Masters came along in November last year, at a time when life was quite a bit tougher than it is now, but wasn’t it great to see this event in its proper spring slot again?
Augusta has its faults but provides the watching world with a stunning spectacle, full of vivid colours and calming sounds. There is nothing else in sport quite like it. Balm for the soul. Roll on 2022.