Hideki Matsuyama seems to be ahead to the response in Japan when he brings dwelling the Masters champion inexperienced jacket and he would benefit from the thought of lighting the Tokyo Olympic cauldron.
Matsuyama celebrated turning into the primary Japanese man to win a significant golf title on Sunday when he captured the Masters by one stroke after a back-nine battle at Augusta Nationwide.
“I can’t think about what it’s going to be like, however what a thrill and honour it’ll be for me to take the inexperienced jacket again to Japan,” Matsuyama stated. “I’m actually trying ahead to it.”
Three-time Masters champion Nick Faldo of England stated Matsuyama needs to be chosen to mild the Tokyo Olympic cauldron subsequent July on the Video games opening ceremonies after the historic victory.
“It could be fairly an honour,” stated Matsuyama. “However I’m undecided about my schedule. If the schedules labored out and I’m in Japan when that occurs and so they ask me, what an honor that will be.”
The standard Matsuyama will virtually definitely be in Japan as a member of Japan’s Olympic golf crew. The boys’s occasion opens July 29, simply days after the Video games are set to start.
“I’m actually trying ahead to the Olympic Video games in Tokyo,” he stated. “If I’m on the crew, and perhaps it seems to be like I will likely be, I’ll do my finest to symbolize my nation, and hopefully I’ll play nicely.”
Matsuyama did that in Sunday’s closing spherical regardless of a one-over par 73 ending complete.
He stated the strain and nerves of enjoying for his nation and his personal dream of profitable the Masters didn’t strike him till he was on the primary tee — about to strike his first shot.
“I felt actually good going to the primary tee, till I stood on the primary tee, after which it hit me that I’m within the final group of the Masters Event and I’m the chief by 4 strokes,” he stated.
“After which I used to be actually nervous. However I caught myself.”
His first shot went approach proper into timber and he opened wih a bogey however answered with a birdie on the second and grinded out a stable spherical earlier than a late cost by Xander Schauffele added some pressure to the again 9.
‘Not considering something’
Matsuyama made bogeys on three of the final 4 holes however led by sufficient to assert a one-stroke victory, though it took a minute for that to sink in.
“When the ultimate putt went in, I actually wasn’t considering of something,” he stated. “However then hugging Xander — however then after I noticed my caddie, Shota and hugged him, I used to be completely satisfied for him as a result of that is his first victory on the bag.
“After which it began sinking in, the enjoyment of being a Masters champion.”
A part of the joys, he stated, is the concept that he may encourage some youth who turn into main golf rivals whereas he’s nonetheless enjoying.
“It’s thrilling to suppose that there are a number of kids in Japan watching,” he stated. “Hopefully in 5, 10 years, after they get a little bit older, hopefully, a few of them will likely be competing on the world stage.
“I nonetheless have a number of years left, so they will must compete towards me nonetheless. However I’m completely satisfied for them as a result of hopefully, they may have the ability to observe in my footsteps.”
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