It was a historic day for Hideki Matsuyama.
The 29-year-old won both his first career Masters and first career major at Augusta on Sunday, shooting 10-under-par for the weekend while also becoming the first Japanese golfer to win the storied tournament and first Japanese male to win a major.
It was not easy for Matsuyama.
Things got a bit dicey on the 15th hole, a par 5, when Matsuyama sent a shot into the water. He bogeyed one-over, while Xander Schauffelle birdied the hole to finish one-under, bringing his lead to just two strokes with three holes to play.
But Matsuyama was able to rebound and hang on for the historic victory, edging Will Zalatoris by one stroke for the win.
Matsuyama had never finished higher than fifth at Augusta and the closest he came to winning a major was when he tied for second at the U.S. Open in 2017.
Matsuyama entered the day 11-under-par, holding a three-stroke lead over Justin Rose, Schauffele and Will Zalatoris.
Despite a bogey on the first hole, Matsuyama was able to maintain his lead and began building his lead on the ninth hole — a par 3 which he birdied.
CBS even shared the Japanese call of Matsuyama’s birdie to put in perspective the excitement building toward this significant milestone overseas.
While Schauffele closed within two strokes of Matsuyama, he tied for third at 7-under-par with Jordan Spieth while Zalatoris finished second at nine-under-par.
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