Matsuyama Makes History At The Masters
Apr 12, 2021, 7:24 AM | Updated: 7:24 am
(Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)
(Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)
The 85th Masters will be remembered for a long time.
Anytime that history is made, that reference point will be recalled for years to come. When the green jacket was slipped over the shoulders of Hideki Matsuyama from last November’s winner Dustin Johnson, it signified a slice of history.
This should be significant history too.
Matsuyama becomes the first male from Japan to win a golf major. There are so many golfers in Japan and imagine the youth in Japan now looking at someone that they can idolize and mimic to try and be the next Matsuyama.
If you don’t believe me, here is what Tiger Woods said in a Tweet on Sunday to Matsuyama:
Matsuyama won this tournament on moving day. His third round on Saturday was going along just fine but when they had to stop for a short time due to a weather delay, Matsuyama got hot, red hot. He played 11 through 17 at 6 under and moved on top of the leaderboard with some cushion.
That cushion allowed him to chase history even if he wasn’t spectacular on Sunday.
Will Zalatoris shot a 2 under Sunday to finish in 2nd at 9 under. Jordan Speith finished his 4 day tournament at 7 under par in a tie for 3rd place. That 7 under he shared with Xander Schauffele. Schauffele will look back at a missed opportunity. He was paired with Matsuyama and made him earn that green jacket. He was pushing him and catching him. After Matsuyama put a ball in the water on 15 and Schauffele birdied it was a 2 stroke match with 3 holes to go.
The famed 16th hole was next and if Matsuyama was feeling the nerves he may have loosened up the moment that Schauffele leaked his tee shot on 16 and into the water. The pressure seemed to ease and while Schauffele tripled bogeyed Matsuyama just cruised in with his lead. He was not stellar to finish but he didn’t have to be.
He bogeyed 3 of the last 4 holes and in fact was over par in his final round but based on the cushion his 10 under was enough for him, enough for history, and just right for Japan.
