Hideki Matsuyama appears to be like 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 serious golf title on Sunday when he captured the Masters by one stroke after a back-nine battle at Augusta National.
“I can’t imagine what it’s going to be like, but what a thrill and honour it’ll be for me to take the green jacket back to Japan,” Matsuyama stated. “I’m really looking forward to it.”
Three-time Masters champion Nick Faldo of England stated Matsuyama ought to be chosen to mild the Tokyo Olympic cauldron subsequent July on the Games opening ceremonies after the historic victory.
“It would be quite an honour,” stated Matsuyama. “But I’m not sure about my schedule. If the schedules worked out and I’m in Japan when that happens and they ask me, what an honor that would be.”
The humble Matsuyama will nearly actually be in Japan as a member of Japan’s Olympic golf workforce. The males’s occasion opens July 29, simply days after the Games are set to start.
“I’m really looking forward to the Olympic Games in Tokyo,” he stated. “If I’m on the team, and maybe it looks like I will be, I’ll do my best to represent my country, and hopefully I’ll play well.”
Matsuyama did that in Sunday’s closing spherical regardless of a one-over par 73 ending complete.
He stated the stress and nerves of taking part in for his nation and his personal dream of successful the Masters didn’t strike him till he was on the primary tee — about to strike his first shot.
“I felt really good going to the first tee, until I stood on the first tee, and then it hit me that I’m in the last group of the Masters Tournament and I’m the leader by four strokes,” he stated.
“And then I was really nervous. But I caught myself.”
His first shot went method proper into bushes 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 rigidity to the again 9.
‘Not thinking anything’
Matsuyama made bogeys on three of the final 4 holes however led by sufficient to say a one-stroke victory, though it took a minute for that to sink in.
“When the final putt went in, I really wasn’t thinking of anything,” he stated. “But then hugging Xander — but then when I saw my caddie, Shota and hugged him, I was happy for him because this is his first victory on the bag.
“And then it started sinking in, the joy of being a Masters champion.”
Part of the fun, he stated, is the concept that he might encourage some youth who change into main golf rivals whereas he’s nonetheless taking part in.
“It’s thrilling to think that there are a lot of youngsters in Japan watching,” he stated. “Hopefully in five, 10 years, when they get a little older, hopefully, some of them will be competing on the world stage.
“I still have a lot of years left, so they are going to have to compete against me still. But I’m happy for them because hopefully, they will be able to follow in my footsteps.”
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