Tiger says Matsuyama’s victory has global impact

AUGUSTA, United States: A new golf era has dawned in the Land of the Rising Sun thanks to Hideki Matsuyama’s victory Sunday at the Masters, the first major triumph by a Japanese man.

And global golf icon Tiger Woods says Matsuyama’s onestroke win over American Will Zalatoris for the green jacket will resonate worldwide.

“Making Japan proud Hideki,” Woods tweeted. “Congratulations on such a huge accomplishment for you and your country. This historical @ TheMasters win will impact the entire golf world.”

Matsuyama hopes his success will inspire legions of Japanese golfers to follow his example and launch careers in the sport, much the way “Tigermania” sparked greater interest after Woods won the 1997 Masters.

“I hope it will affect golf in a good way, not only those who are golfers already but the youngsters who are inclined to play golf,” Matsuyama said through a translator.

“I hope they will see this victory and think it’s cool and try and follow in my footsteps. Maybe a lot of younger golfers thought, ‘That’s an impossibility,’ but with me doing it they will realize it is possible and if they set their minds to it they can do it.”

Australia’s Adam Scott, the 2013 Masters champion and the only man from his homeland to win the Masters, says the new champion can expect his own “Matsu-mania” in Japan.

“He’s a bit like a Tiger Woods to the rest of the world, Hideki in Japan,” Scott said.

“He has got such a big following every week, no matter how he plays anyway.”