ALL HAIL THE MASTER

Hideki Matsuyama’s Masters win brings worldwide recognition to Japan – a country that has long loved the game

- LINDSAY DE FREITAS

IT’S safe to say people in Japan are gaga about golf. From businessmen swinging imaginary clubs at train stations to countless multi-storey driving ranges, the passion for the gentleman’s game is not hard to spot. The country boasts almost 2 500 golf courses, the most of any Asian nation. By comparison, South Africa – which is nearly four times the size – has just under 500 courses.

And never has the love of the game been more evident than when Hideki Matsuyama recently became Japan’s first winner of a prestigious Major tournament.

After four gruelling days of inclement weather and tough opposition, the 29-year-old’s nail-biting one-shot victory in the Masters in Augusta, Georgia, sent his country into a frenzy.

As Matsuyama slipped on the iconic green jacket and held the famous trophy aloft, golf-related stocks in the country surged and commentators held back tears on live TV. But perhaps the most poignant moment of all belonged to his caddie, Shota Hayafuji.

After the final stroke, Matsuyama could be seen with tears in his eyes as he walked off the green.