Matsuyama Vows to Maintain Major Focus

Augusta, Georgia, United States: A disappointing denouement to the 87th Masters Tournament has not dulled Hideki Matsuyama’s Major ambitions.

Within five shots of the lead early in the final round, the 31-year-old Japanese dared to dream of adding a second Green Jacket to his wardrobe, having been the first Asian to win at Augusta National in 2021.

However, with his putter turning cold as the sun came out on Sunday afternoon, Matsuyama dropped shots at three of the last five holes, signing off with a three-over 75.

His 72-hole total of two-under 286 left him in a share of 16th place – 10 shots behind triumphant Spaniard Jon Rahm who ended four strokes in front of joint runners-up Brooks Koepka and Phil Mickelson.

“I thought I stood a chance when I was five shots off the lead at one stage in the final round, but my putts were just not strong enough,” reflected Matsuyama, a two-time winner of the Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship (AAC).

Matsuyama said he will now turn his attention to the year’s three remaining Majors, starting with the PGA Championship, to be held at Oak Hill Country Club in Rochester, New York from May 18-21.

“The goal is still to win Majors. That has not changed and I want to continue to motivate myself and my fellow compatriots to challenge for top honours on the international stage,” said Matsuyama.

Of the five AAC alumni who made the cut at Augusta National, Matsuyama finished highest followed by Korean Lee Kyoung-hoon (tied 23rd, 287); New Zealander Ryan Fox (tied 26th, 288); Korean Kim Si-woo (tied 29th, 289) and Australian Cameron Smith (tied 34th, 290).

Fox described his Masters debut as ‘awesome’.

He said: “If you’d have given me even-par at the start of the week, I would have been pretty dang happy.

“I feel like I left a little bit out there. I think this golf course, the more you play it, the more you figure it out. I definitely hit some wrong shots out there.

“No matter how much you practise to some of these pins, when you actually see them, it’s very different.

“Hopefully I get another crack at it in the next few years and can learn from this experience. Regardless, it’s been an awesome one.”