[Golf Topic] 'Masters Champ' Matsuyama "Tokyo Olympics Gold Medal Contender?"

Matsuyama Hideki is smiling brightly while holding the Masters championship trophy. Augusta (USA) = Getty Images / Multibits Photo by Multibits

[Asia Economy Kim Hyun-jun, Golf Specialist Reporter] ○…‘Masters Champion’ Hideki Matsuyama (Japan) has emerged as a gold medal contender for the Tokyo Olympics this July….

On the 12th (Korean time), he won the Masters (total prize money $11.5 million) held at Augusta National Golf Club in Georgia, USA (par 72, 7,475 yards), becoming the first Asian player to claim the ‘Green Jacket.’ Matsuyama has a perfect compatibility with Kasumigaseki, the venue for the Tokyo Olympic men's golf event. During the 2010 Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship, he won by a remarkable 5-stroke margin over the runner-up, and as the champion, he participated in the 2011 Masters as an amateur, finishing tied for 27th, the highest amateur ranking.

Kasumigaseki Golf Club is Japan’s most prestigious course, having hosted the ‘National Title’ Japan Open four times. Although notorious for its exclusive management, it is naturally favorable to Matsuyama. In 2017, Matsuyama accompanied U.S. President Donald Trump and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe during their friendly round. The Tokyo Olympic men's golf event will commence its grand journey on July 29. Shugo Imahira, Takumi Kanaya, and Ryo Ishikawa are competing for the remaining spot.

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