Matsuyama’s Masters win sparks joyful reaction in Japan
GOLF
TOKYO: Japan sucked in its breath as Hideki Matsuyama almost blew his chance to win the Masters but the golfer’s oneshot victory at Augusta National sparked a joyous reaction back home as the country celebrated another sporting triumph in testing times.
Matsuyama (29) became the first man from Japan to win one of golf’s major titles, a feat that drew praise from government and Olympics officials with the Tokyo Games just three months away.
Katsunobu Kato, Japan’s top government spokesman, expressed ‘‘congratulations and respect from the heart’’ for Matsuyama’s ‘‘historic’’ win, which came as another ray of hope during the Covid19 pandemic.
‘‘It is another bright piece of news of a Japanese athlete’s outstanding performance on the global stage under tough circumstances like training,’’ Kato said.
Kato pointed to tennis player Naomi Osaka’s win at the Australian Open and Shohei Ohtani’s outstanding performance as a hitter this week in Major League Baseball as further evidence of Japan’s sporting success.
Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga called Matsuyama’s win ‘‘wonderful’’ and a source of pride and courage for the Japanese people during the difficulties posed by the pandemic.
Matsuyama started yesterday’s final round with a fourshot lead and looking a strong bet to join Hinako Shibuno and Chako Higuchi as Japanese major champions. Shibuno won the Women’s British Open in 2019 and Higuchi won the 1977 Women’s PGA Championship.
But Matsuyama’s march to win the coveted green jacket hit a speed bump on the par5 15th, where his approach shot went in the water behind the green.
He could only make bogey while playing partner Xander Schauffele birdied the hole, turning Matsuyama’s comfortable fourshot cushion into a slender twoshot lead.
Schauffele’s triplebogey at the next hole gave Matsuyama some breathing space and, while he dropped two more strokes over the closing three holes, it was enough for a oneshot win over Masters newcomer Will Zalatoris.
Matsuyama’s win has prompted calls for him to be given the honour of lighting the Olympic Games cauldron at the opening ceremony in July.
‘‘It would be quite an honour,’’ he said in a PGA Tour statement.
‘‘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.’’
Hidemasa Nakamura, the Games delivery officer for the Tokyo Olympics organising committee,said he stayed up late at night to watch Matsuyama.
‘‘It was a nice encouragement because we would like to prepare for this summer in Tokyo so that such hardworking players can play an active role,’’ he said.
Matsuyama also drew praise from the US Embassy in Tokyo.
‘‘Congratulations to Hideki Matsuyama for winning #TheMasters! We knew years ago that he was destined for greatness,’’ the embassy said in a tweet. — Reuters