Hideki Matsuyama.Photo: Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images
Hideki Matsuyama is ending Masters Sunday with a green jacket.
Matsuyama, 29, won the 2021 Masters at Augusta National in Georgia this weekend, finishing the tournament at 10 under.
It marks the first Masters victory for Matsuyama, and the first time a Japanese player has won a PGA Tour major.
Matsuyama took the lead early, as many presumed frontrunners fell behind — including most recent Masters winner Dustin Johnson, who failed to make the weekend cut to defend his title.
Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images
Johnson, the current world No. 1, will present Matsuyama with his jacket during a ceremony Sunday. The 36-year-old is only the 11th defending Masters champion to miss the 36-hole cut.
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Of his loss, Johnson said, “Obviously, I wanted to be around for the weekend,” ESPN reported. “I like this golf course. I feel like I play it very well. I just didn’t putt very good. It’s pretty simple.”
Going into Sunday,Matsuyamahad a four-shot lead, even despite Saturday’s rain delay. The golfer was playing in the third round when a rainstorm caused a 78-minute suspension, according toThe New York Times.
Before the tournament was brought to a halt, Matsuyama said he hit his “worst shot of the week.” He then spent the weather delay in his car playing video games on his phone,Sports Illustratedreported.
The time off gave Matsuyama time to recuperate. “I just figured, I can’t hit anything worse than that,” he said through an interpreter, theTimesreported. “Maybe it relieved some of the pressure. I did hit it well after the delay.”
source: people.com
