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Japan takes inspiration from Matsuyama

Yuri Kageyama and Koji UedaAAP
Hideki Matsuyama's Masters win has provided inspiration in golf-mad Japan.
Camera IconHideki Matsuyama's Masters win has provided inspiration in golf-mad Japan. Credit: AP

Led by Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga, Japan is celebrating golfer Hideki Matsuyama's breakthrough victory in the Masters at Augusta National.

"It was really wonderful. As the coronavirus drags on, his achievement moved our hearts and gave us courage," said Mr Suga, with his country struggling to pull off the postponed Tokyo Olympics in just over three months.

Legendary Masashi "Jumbo" Ozaki, who tied for eighth in the Masters in 1973, said he hoped more Japanese male golfers would be inspired by Matsuyama, the first player from their country to pull on the famous green jacket.

"This is a great achievement for the Japanese golf world," he said

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"And it came about because of Mr. Matsuyama's own ability to take up challenges, his courage and all the effort that went into that."

Isao Aoki finished second to Jack Nicklaus in the 1980 US Open, the previous best finish by a Japanese male golfer in a major.

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Two Japanese women have won golf majors: Chako Higuchi at the 1977 LPGA Championship and Hinako Shibuno at the 2019 Women's British Open.

Aoki recalled how Matsuyama won the low amateur title in the 2011 Masters just weeks after the earthquake, tsunami and the meltdown of three nuclear reactors devastated the northeastern Fukushima area of Japan.

About 18,000 people died in the disaster and the area is still struggling to recover.

"This time, your Masters win came at a time when many people were feeling down, with many activities restricted in Japan amid a coronavirus pandemic, and you gave hope to so many people," Aoki told Golf Digest.

Aoki added: "This win, which was the first for a Japanese as well as an Asian, was a moment we were all waiting for, not just myself but all the Japanese golf fans and those involved in the golf world."

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