Matsuyama hangs on for historic win in Masters
GOLF
AUGUSTA, Georgia: Hideki Matsuyama overcame a potentially ruinous moment to become the first Japanese man to win a major championship with a oneshot Masters victory over Will Zalatoris at Augusta National yesterday.
Matsuyama, who started the day with a fourshot lead over a quartet that included playing competitor Xander Schauffele and Masters newcomer Zalatoris, carded a 1over 73 that left him at 10under for the tournament at the year’s first major.
‘‘Hopefully, I’ll be a pioneer and many other Japanese will follow,’’ Matsuyama said through an interpreter inside Butler Cabin where he was presented with the champion’s famous green jacket.
‘‘I am glad to open the floodgates hopefully and many more will follow me.’’
The 29yearold was seemingly in control until a bogey at the par5 15th, where his approach shot went in the water behind the green, compounded with a birdie from Schauffele turned his fourstroke cushion into a twoshot lead.
But world No 6 Schauffele put his tee shot at the par3 16th into the water and made triplebogey to fall out of contention. He finished three shots behind Matsuyama and in a twoway share of third with former champion Jordan Spieth, who fired 70.
‘‘I was coming in hot, I was feeling good,’’ Schauffele, who made four consecutive birdies starting at the par3 12th, said.
‘‘Hideki surprisingly went for the green on 15 so I felt like he gave me a little bit of hope there and maybe [I was] a little hyperaggressive there on 16.’’
Matsuyama bogeyed the 16th which left him with a twoshot lead over Zalatoris, who was already in the clubhouse at 9under after shooting 70 yesterday, and went on to close the deal with a parbogey finish.
‘‘Making Japan proud Hideki,’’ fivetime Masters champion Tiger Woods, who is home recovering from serious leg injuries suffered in a February car crash, wrote on Twitter.
‘‘Congratulations on such a huge accomplishment for you and your country. This historical @TheMasters win will impact the entire golf world.’’
The victory by Matsuyama came in his 33rd major championship appearance and ended Zalatoris’ impressive bid to become the first Masters newcomer to win a green jacket since Fuzzy Zoeller accomplished the feat in 1979.
Zalatoris was up for the challenge early but faltered after the turn as he threeputted for bogey at the par4 10th, dropped another stroke at the par3 12th and then failed to cash in at the par5 13th where he threeputted for par.
But Zalatoris did not give up and carded two birdies over the closing four holes to finish alone in second, describing his debut as ‘‘an absolute treat’’.
‘‘The fact I put myself in contention and was able to handle it and be in the final group in my third major in my entire career is obviously really exciting.’’
Matsuyama had made a shaky start with a bogey at the first hole that cut his lead to one stroke but made three birdies before the turn, including at both par5s, to restore control.
Matsuyama bogeyed the 12th where he failed to get up and down from a back bunker but tapped in for birdie at the parfive 13th and was looking set for a comfortable finish.
But Matsuyama said he never allowed himself to think the green jacket was his until his tee shot at the par4 18th final hole found the fairway.
‘‘My nerves really didn’t start on the second nine,’’ Matsuyama said. ‘‘It was right from the start today and right to the very last putt.’’
World no 3 Jon Rahm, whose wife gave birth to their first child last weekend, carded the day’s low round, a 6under 66, vaulting him into a share of fifth.
Englishman Justin Rose (74), who held the outright lead after the first and second rounds, and Australian Marc Leishman (73) also started the day four shots behind Matsuyama but fell out of contention before they reached the turn. — Reuters