Hideki Matsuyama was about to finish the final day of the Masters with a bogey putt to win. He had started the first day with an eagle on hole 8 and birdies on 2 and 13, but he had bogeyed 18, finishing the first round with -3. He had a mediocre first 9 in the 2nd round before making the turn finishing 9 with E. When he made the turn, he bogeyed 10, eagled 13 again, birdied 15, but finished -1 for the round with a bogey on hole 16. He headed into the third round with -4 and made the turn in the 3rd round with a -1 on the round after birdieing 7. He had an amazing back 9 with birdies on 11, 12, 16, and 17. He eagled 15 and finished with a 65 (-7) to take the lead. He went into the final round with -11 and the lead. He paired with Xander Schauffele in the final round to battle it out. He kept his lead with a -2 on the front 9. He had a bogey on 1 and birdies on 2, 8, and 9, but Xander was on the prowl. On hole 15, Hideki hit a ball into the back water. He saved it though for bogey which saved his round because Xander birdied the hole to get within 2. He then bogeyed 16, but Xander had a horrible hole and triple bogeyed after hitting his first shot into the water, his second (3) into the crowd, his third (4) barely on, and 2 putted to drop to third, tied with Jordan Speith who had just finished his round. Will Zalatoris had finished his round 9 under which created buzz about a possible playoff due to Hideki looking like he was choking. Hideki saved par on 17 along with Xander which almost sealed his win. Heading to 18, Hideki was under a lot of pressure. He fought through it with a beatiful drive, but his second shot went into the right bunker. He got out of the bunker swiftly, and had a two putt chance to win. His first putt was long, but nestled about 1 foot from the hole. It all came down to this putt. Miss it, and play in a playoff with Will Zalatoris or make it and seal the win. Hideki sinked it and hugged his caddy knowing that he had just made history. He had become the first Japanese man to win the Masters. Hideki had won the Green Jacket and people in Japan celebrated. It was only 9 AM, znd people had been watching for 9 hours. Hideki sadly did not have his family in America, but he will eventually go back to Japan to celebrate with his family.
Hideki was born on February 25, 1992 in Ehime, Japan. Hideki won the Asia-Pacific Amatuer to go to Augusta 10 years ago, and played great. He finished with -1 which put him as a possible future champion. He came to Augusta again in 2012 after defending the Asia-Pacific Amatuer Championship title. He finished +9 that year which made his future champ hopes look weird. He had finished in 5th in 2015 at the Masters. He then returned in 2021 determined to win. He had finished the first day of the Masters tied for 8th, but he crept up on the leader Justin Rose and finished the day at -4 tied for 6th. He then took the lead by 4 after a great day 3 and a horrible day 3 for Justin Rose. Hideki sealed the deal with the bogey which gave him an amazing finish and the Green Jacket. Hideki had become a national hero in Japan. Congrats Hideki!
Comments