By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
@Masters2021.
| Masters final leaderboard |
|---|
| -10 H Matsuyama (Jpn); -9 W Zalatoris (US); -7 J Spieth (US), X Schauffele (US); -6 J Rahm (Spa), M Leishman (Aus); -5 J Rose (Eng); -4 P Reed (US), C Conners (Can) |
| Selected others: -2 R MacIntyre (Sco); -1 T Hatton (Eng); Level S Lowry (Ire); +1 P Casey (Eng), I Poulter (Eng); +2 M Fitzpatrick (Eng), M Wallace (Eng); +5 B DeChambeau (US) |
Hideki Matsuyama held off the field to win the Masters by one stroke at Augusta National and become the first Japanese man to claim a major title.
Matsuyama had a four-shot lead heading into the final day and, despite some nervy moments on Sunday, shot a one-over 73 to win on 10 under par.
American debutant Will Zalatoris was his closest challenger at nine under.
England’s Justin Rose, who led for two rounds, faded in the final 18 holes, with a a two-over 74 to end five under.
Xander Schauffele, playing with Matsuyama, birdied the 15th to close within two shots, but hit his tee shot in the water on the 16th as his challenge finished with with a triple-bogey six.
He ended at seven under par in a share of third with fellow American and 2015 champion Jordan Spieth.
Spanish world number three Jon Rahm posted a final-day 66 to come in a further stroke back, alongside Australia’s Marc Leishman.
Scotland’s Robert MacIntyre impressed on his debut and finished joint 12th at two under par to also secure his place at next year’s Masters.
A decade since Matsuyama was awarded the Silver Cup as the leading amateur at the 2011 Masters, the 29-year-old returned to record a victory that will resonate hugely in his home nation.
Japan has boasted major champions in 1977 LGPA Championship winner Hisako Higuchi and Hinako Shibuno, who won the Women’s Open two years ago, but the closest a male player had previously come to golf’s most sought-after prizes was Isao Aoki with a runner-up finish at the 1980 US Open.
“I am really happy. My nerves really didn’t start on the back nine, it was right from the start and right until the very last putt,” said Matsuyama.
“I was thinking about them [friends and family] all the way around. I am really happy I played well for them. Hopefully I will be a pioneer and many other Japanese players will follow and I am glad to open the floodgates.”
The foundations for Matsuyama’s success were laid on Saturday, returning from an hour-long delay for storms to shoot six under par through his final eight holes.
It meant the world number 25, who passed the time by sitting in his car playing games on his cell phone, signed for a stunning 65 that put him four strokes clear of the field on 11 under.