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Hideki Matsuyama

History is made! Matsuyama clings on for Masters glory on dramatic final day at Augusta

Hideki Matsuyama certainly kept things interesting en route to his maiden major. Here's your final wrap from a thrilling week at Augusta
 

Hideki Matsuyama began his Augusta career as the low amateur in 2011. Ten years later he is the Masters champion.

He becomes Japan’s first men’s major champion – third overall after Hisako Higuchi, the 1977 Women’s PGA Championship winner, and 2019 Women’s Open champion Hinako Shibuno – and it’s difficult to put into words what this will mean back in his homeland.

I can’t even think of a British golf example in recent years. Think Andy Murray’s first Wimbledon win and you’re still not even close. Adam Scott said Matsuyama is to Japan what Tiger Woods is to the rest of the world.

Every year at the Open there are dozens of Japanese journalists sent thousands of miles to the UK with one mission: to ask every player that passes through the interview room about Matsuyama. It’s a remarkable sight.

And Matsuyama didn’t half make them sweat on Sunday.

His final-round lead began at four and at one point it was as high as six. It was back to four at the par-5 15th when he inexplicably took on the green with a 4-iron. He rescued bogey after finding the water but playing partner Xander Schauffele had cut the lead to two.

Moments later, though, it was game over. Schauffele dunked his tee shot in the drink at the par-3 16th en route to a triple bogey and Matsuyama could plot his way to the Green Jacket. A bogey at 18 meant the margin, in the end, was just one.

Will Zalatoris came within two shots of becoming just the fourth ever rookie to win the Masters, instead settling for second at 9-under, while Shauffele tied for third with Jordan Spieth at -7.

New dad Jon Rahm carded a round-of-the-day 66 to finish at 6-under with Marc Leishman, and Justin Rose once again led the way for Britain at 5-under.

Here’s a wrap-up of the big talking points of the day…

Team GB&I watch

How did the British and Irish players finish up this week?

Justin Rose (-5): Good week overall for Rose, even if he will be disappointed not to be taking home the Green Jacket.
Robert MacIntyre (-2): What a week for debutant. Flying the flag for Scotland and returning to Augusta next year thanks to a top-12 finish.
Tyrrell Hatton (-1): First round in the 60s for Hatton, with four consecutive birdies on the back-nine.
Shane Lowry (E): Bogey on 18 for the Open champ meant back-to-back weekend rounds of 72.
Ian Poulter (+1): Birdie-birdie start propelled Poulter to his best score of the week.
Paul Casey (+1): Four consecutive birdies on the back-nine for Casey bumped him up the leaderboard.
Matthew Fitzpatrick (+2): A second 73 of the weekend for Fitzpatrick – not what he would have hoped for.
Matt Wallace (+2): An eagle on the second was just what the doctor ordered, but in the end Wallace stumbled to a closing 73.
Martin Laird (+3): The Scotsman just ran out of steam as he cards his second 74 of the week.
Tommy Fleetwood (+5): A day, and specifically a back-nine, to forget for Fleetwood.

Best shot(s) of the day

Two of the best from Tony Finau. We’re sure he meant at least one of them…

Worst shot of the day

It didn’t matter in the end but it sure kept it interesting.

With a four-shot lead and only four holes to play, why oh why would you take this on in two?

A bogey for Matsuyama amde for an unnecessarily close finish. Not that we were complaining.

Spieth smashes more Masters records

He may not have fulfilled the prophecy with a second Green Jacket this week, but boy did he provide some vintage Spieth entertainment…

Current bet slip status: Jordan Spieth to win the 2022 Masters.

Reed reaping the rewards on 16

The 16th hole at Augusta has claimed many a scalp over the years – just ask Xander Schauffele – but it seems Patrick Reed can’t get enough…

Sensational.

Fashion police

Even being the Masters champion does not exempt you from the scrutiny of the fashion police. Come on Hideki, you had all night to plan this…

Still, does anything look good with green?

Stat(s) of the day

As if you needed any more reasons to applaud that win. Incredible stuff.

If you missed anything from the rest of the week, scroll down and hit the next page button…

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Alex Perry

Alex Perry

Alex has been the editor of National Club Golfer since 2017. A Devonian who enjoys wittering on about his south west roots, Alex moved north to join NCG after more than a decade in London, the last five of which were with ESPN. Away from golf, Alex follows Torquay United and spends too much time playing his PlayStation or his guitar and not enough time practising his short game.

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