Suga honors Matsuyama with award

Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga invited Hideki Matsuyama, the first Japanese male golfer to win the Masters Tournament, to the Prime Minister’s Office on Friday morning and honored him with the Prime Minister’s Award.

“This is a great achievement. You gave us the courage and hope in this milestone year [marking] the 10th anniversary of the Great East Japan Earthquake,”

Suga told Matsuyama during the award ceremony.

Matsuyama attended the ceremony wearing the green jacket presented to the winner of the championship.

Winning the event is considered to be the highest accolade for professional golfers.

“I’ll be very glad if [my victory] prompts children to aim at winning the Masters,” said Matsuyama, who also brought gifts for Suga, including an autographed cap. (May 1)

The Yomiuri Shimbun Hideki Matsuyama, left, gives an autographed cap to Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga after receiving the Prime Minister’s Award at the Prime Minister’s Office on Friday.