Smith and Matsuyama Renewing Friendly Rivalry

Augusta, Georgia, United States: When Hideki Matsuyama and Cameron Smith tee-off together in the opening round of the 87th Masters Tournament today they’ll be renewing a friendly rivalry that began more than a decade ago at the Singapore Island Country Club.

It was at the 2011 Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship (AAC) that Japan’s Matsuyama and Australian Smith first crossed swords.

Triumphant in the second edition of the AAC on home soil in 2010, Matsuyama made a successful title defence at the Singapore venue in 2011 where Smith finished fourth.

A year later at Thailand’s Amata Spring Country Club, Matsuyama and Smith were both outshone by a 14-year-old Chinese golfer named Guan Tianlang.

Matsuyama placed fourth and Smith tied for seventh in what proved to be their final appearances in the AAC, both turning professional shortly after.

Earlier in 2012, Matsuyama and Smith had been team-mates for the Asia-Pacific Golf Confederation (APGC) in the Bonallack Trophy.

Although the Asia-Pacific team, captained by current APGC Chairman Taimur Hassan Amin, were soundly beaten by their European counterparts in the Ryder Cup-style contest at Monte Rei in Portugal, Matsuyama and Smith stood out as stars of the future.

Now, both are Major champions, Matsuyama having become the first Asian to win the Masters Tournament in 2021 and Smith claiming the Claret Jug after a thrilling final-day duel with Rory McIlroy at St Andrews in the 150th Open Championship last year.

At Augusta National this week, they’ll be in each other’s company for the first two rounds in a fascinating three-ball that also includes Korean Im Sung-jae.

Smith’s compatriot Harrison Crowe, the reigning AAC winner, will also be pleased with his draw. Crowe is in a threesome that includes fellow-Australian Min Woo Lee, another former AAC alumni, and American veteran Larry Mize, the 1987 Masters champion.