Hideki Matsuyama, of Japan, wears the champion's green jacket after winning the Masters golf tournament as Dustin Johnson watches on Sunday in Augusta, Ga. Photo: AP/David J Phillip
golf

Matsuyama makes history by winning Masters

51 Comments
By Doug Ferguson

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After he wins this, we know who will be lighting the Olympic flame this summer.

3 ( +6 / -3 )

“If Hideki wins, I bet he’ll light the Olympic flame.” — CBS Masters announcer Ian Baker-Finch

4 ( +5 / -1 )

Four holes to go. Fingers crossed! He makes history if he holds on.

The Masters is probably the hardest Major to win. The others can be fluked by an also-ran when conditions are poor or the course is badly set up.

-3 ( +1 / -4 )

Maybe Tsubasa Kajitani can join him.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

Go go Matsuyama-san! Bring it home to Japan! 126 million people holding their breath right now...

0 ( +7 / -7 )

Congratulations, Hideki!

4 ( +6 / -2 )

Yeeeeeesssssss! Well done, Matsuyama-san! Dominant performance. First Asian-born Major winner, hopefully many, many more to come.

Party time in Japan today!

-4 ( +5 / -9 )

Woohoo that was nerve wracking. Deserving champion. Looks great in green.

2 ( +4 / -2 )

Just made history well done first Japanese player to win a major and second asian born to do so thoroughly deserved

1 ( +7 / -6 )

“I owe a deep debt of gratitude to the members of Augusta National, because I wouldn’t be here without them.” — Matsuyama recognizing the impact of the Masters Tournament Foundation, a charitable extension of the tournament that invests in development programs worldwide

5 ( +6 / -1 )

Would’ve been nice if he’d sunk that putt for par on the last, but a worthy winner nonetheless.

-2 ( +3 / -5 )

Correction - second Asian-born Major winner after Yang Yong-eun of South Korea. My mistake.

Very gracious speech by Matsuyama! Hopefully this will be a huge boost to golf in Japan and inspire millions of kids to take up the sport...future Major winners hopefully!

-6 ( +5 / -11 )

The first Japanese golfer to be presented with the prestigious green jacket.

Great job, Hideki Matsuyama!

3 ( +5 / -2 )

A nice outcome, just a few notches above Matsuyamas previous career high, back to back wins on the most popular US non-major, the Phoenix Waste Management Open or whatever the daft sponsorship name is.

As for the air golfers, just wait til you encounter the young ones doing slow mo swings in elevators, and people with real clubs doing night practice swings on the sidewalk fronting their home. Would not want to walk or bike into that.

4 ( +5 / -1 )

Omedetou gozaimasu . . . (customer of Matsuyama restaurant in California) . . . .

0 ( +1 / -1 )

After he wins this, we know who will be lighting the Olympic flame this summer.

Is golf in Olympics this year?

-3 ( +0 / -3 )

I’ve always supported Matsuyama. Even over 5 years ago, when Japanese fans were ignoring him and buzzing over Ryo Ishikawa. But the unabashed nationalism is kind of off-putting - especially when the same people would likely be offended by any American nationalism, and would be looking to call it “racist”.

Congrats, Hideki Matsuyama.

0 ( +3 / -3 )

Correction - second Asian-born Major winner after Yang Yong-eun of South Korea. My mistake

For men that is, Asian golfers own the LPGA currently especially the past 3 years.

-2 ( +2 / -4 )

Congrats, Hideki!

You look good in green!

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

good on him! I supported Hideki when all the bandwagoners were riding the Ishikawa train. Asked one this morning, who of course was gloating about Matsuyama’s win, “Remember when you said you didn’t like Matsuyama because he was fat and ugly, and that Ishikawa was Japan’s future? How’s he doing?” Guy went BEET red.

Point is, the country is already suddenly loving this guy that barely got a second glance when “Speed English” was all the rage.

0 ( +4 / -4 )

Congratulations, HidekiMatsuyama!

What are you going to buy with your prize money?” Matsuyama needed no interpreter when he said in English, "I'm really happy." "Hopefully, I'll be a pioneer and many other Japanese will follow," Matsuyama said.

Of course, abroad, he got none of the inappropriate ‘volley of questions’ reserved for other Japanese International Sports stars: “Do you consider yourself Japanese?”, “Can you answer in Japanese?”, ”Will you eat katsudon again today?

-4 ( +1 / -5 )

Golf, Tennis, Baseball, Soccer. Japan is really turning into a major sports powerhouse.

1 ( +3 / -2 )

gonna have to be careful of the oyajis on the train platforms swinging their imaginary golf clubs extra hard today...

Spot on!

-2 ( +0 / -2 )

smithinjapan

Re: Ryo Ishikawa

Yeah, well you know how they are about “ Kawaii”.

-2 ( +1 / -3 )

That's a tremendous achievement. Congratulations to Mr. Matsuyama!

1 ( +2 / -1 )

Great start to the week!

Golf, Tennis, Baseball, Soccer. Japan is really turning into a major sports powerhouse.

It's long overdue, given the energy and resources used on sports in what is a rich country. My suspicion is that Japanese competitors, who've never lacked dedication, are now less likely to be held back by poor training and stupid stuff like senpai-kohai.

The cost of playing golf in Japan is a fraction of what it was thirty years ago, and I'm sure that will help too.

1 ( +2 / -1 )

Bully for him.

-3 ( +0 / -3 )

Enjoyed watching Matsuyama win the Masters - the most prestigious tournament in golf. He is still a young man in his prime. The sky’s the limit. But golf has got to be the most frustrating game I have ever tried. It can be soul crushing. Hope he can continue to play at a high level for the next 20 years.

3 ( +3 / -0 )

126 million people holding their breath right now...

To paraphrase reporter at the crash of the Hindenburg, “*Oh, the hyperbole,...*”

1 ( +3 / -2 )

I watched the final round live on TV and I have to say that there were a few nerve-wracking moments as all eyes were on Matsuyama, especially with 3 bogeys in the last 4. Will Zalatoris really kept the pace right behind before the triple bogey at 16th, but I guess that tournament is always about those very fine margins and late drama. Nevertheless, he made it home with the green jacket at the end of the day.

Many congratulations to Matsuyama-san being the first Japanese and first Asian golfer to win the Masters among la crême de la crême.

1 ( +2 / -1 )

NOTE:

This does not take away from his success, and congratulations are in order.

However, when certain posters say that every single Japanese person cares, or that they’re all going to party in the streets, when such achievements are reached, no.

The Japanese are not as hive-minded as you think.

2 ( +4 / -2 )

Golf, Tennis, Baseball, Soccer. Japan is really turning into a major sports powerhouse.

Well stated. I would argue they are not becoming one - they already ARE a powerhouse.

Japan is an ancient culture, but a young, hungry nation when it comes to sport. It is a fabulous achievement that they have won Golf Majors, Tennis Majors, A Soccer World Cup, and Baseball world championship. The only big things left to tick off would be an F1 World Drivers Championship (very possible with Tsunoda in the next few years), and a Rugby World Cup (again, very possible within 1 or 2 world cups). A lot to admire, and aspire to for other nations.

Omedetou Matsuyama-san and Omedetou Japan!!

-5 ( +4 / -9 )

Congratulations Matsuyama-san!

1 ( +1 / -0 )

Heartfelt congratulations to a thoroughly deserving winner.

Anyone who has watched his progress over the last few years could see it was only a matter of time before he won a major.

Having said that I am sure he benefited from the lack of Japanese media circus at Augusta.

Japan’s chronic self-obsession and the crushing weight of expectation has broken many before him.

2 ( +3 / -1 )

Paustovsky: "Anyone who has watched his progress over the last few years could see it was only a matter of time before he won a major."

Yes! Fortunately for him, I guess, not many did watch.

"Having said that I am sure he benefited from the lack of Japanese media circus at Augusta."

Agreed 100%. Now the threat will be if he can ignore the circus. Japan is absolutely brutal at treating its celebrities with disgust and appalling feelings when they won't join a million talk shows, appear on cup noodle packages, and more until it takes up half their lives and they lose their ability... and then lose the 'fans'. So, while it will make him a pariah, I hope he ignores the sudden influx of media and pressure to sell out at every turn.

-1 ( +2 / -3 )

Fighto!: "Omedetou Matsuyama-san and Omedetou Japan!!"

First part, yes. Second part, why?

-3 ( +2 / -5 )

Why, @Fighto! 8:12a and @marcels 8:21a, do you both insist on adding the word “born” to the conversation? (as if birth place & genetics have any significance of sports accomplishments) Fine, then. On that bit of silliness, Hideki Matsuyama is NOT the “*First Asian-born**” or “second asian-born”. Hideki Matsumura is the “third” - Tiger Woods was ‘ the‘first multiracial and multiethnic, Asian’ golfer of descent for ‘multiple Asian countries and cultures’ to win a major PGA event. Tiger Woods acknowledges his mother’s Thai, Chinese and Dutch ethnicities and his father’s additional multi-racial backgrounds of Chinese, African-American and ‘Indigenous’ North American***. 

Doesn’t fit your 12:40pm “flag-waiving, nationalistic” Fighto! agenda, does it?

*- “Matsuyama speaks even less when cornered after every round by the large contingent of Japanese media.’ - “He's got a lot of pressure on himself," Spieth said. "he's got Japan on his back.” -*

The point is: an individual’s sports accomplishment has nothing to race, ethnicity, or nationality.

- "I felt really good until I stood on the first tee, and then it hit me And I was really nervous," he said. "But I caught myself. The plan today was just go out and do my best for 18 holes, my thought throughout day, just keep doing my best." -

Matsuyama’s win came from HIS ‘hard work, discipline, determination and focus’.

Once again, ‘Congratulations!’ Hideki Matsuyama on ‘YOUR Accomplishments’.

-1 ( +2 / -3 )

126 million people holding their breath right now...

Oh, give it a rest, cobber.

Just say a well deserved congratulations to Matsuyama and spare us the silly nonsense.

Most of us here live in Japan and know it isn’t the case.

1 ( +3 / -2 )

Congrats to Matsuyama.

-1 ( +1 / -2 )

as if birth place & genetics have any significance of sports accomplishments

But in case place of birth does have significance, we should point out he is Ehime-born (in Matsuyama City by coincidence), suggesting that if you were born anywhere else in Japan, you have little chance of becoming a golf champion. Take that, you Kagawa people. Of course, us more scientifically-minded people may wonder whether having a surname that matches your place of birth is more significant. (Osaka and now Matsuyama. Who's next?)

(Sorry. It's Monday.)

-1 ( +1 / -2 )

Good job Matsuyama, proud of him, hope Japan will keep shining inll sports for years to come. I will keep supporting Japan.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

Anyone see how Suga congratulated him on being “The first Japanese” to win this, forgetting a woman has already done so? Oops! Coming JUST off how Japan is so far behind in gender equality rankings. Well done!

-2 ( +0 / -2 )

Excellent. A fine, fine athlete. Superb!

3 ( +3 / -0 )

Congratulations!!!

He is being hailed as the first person born in Asia to win the Masters, although to be fair, Tiger Woods' mother was Asian.

-2 ( +0 / -2 )

@1glenn--was Tiger Woods's mom stateless or did she have a previous nationality? I think there is a reason the rapper Lyrics Born switched from using the cheesy name Asia Born.

The main problem was minorities being expected to only do the support jobs around exclusive golf courses and not being invited to play the game for a long time. For a recent example, see the reporting about undocumented workers at Trump golf properties. Were they allowed to play a few rounds in the slower times of year?

2 ( +2 / -0 )

I am so happy for him! Congratulations.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

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