Matsuyama excels after overcoming 'shock' at tsunami damage
Hideki Matsuyama is focused on Augusta National. His heart ishalf a world away in Sendai, Japan. The 19-year-old golfer is astudent at Tohoku Fukushi University in Sendai, the city that tookthe brunt of the 11 March earthquake and the tsunami that followed.
He still can't reach some friends there; he has no idea what willbe left of his school when he returns.
Yet he has somehow managed to put his worry and despair aside atthe Masters, if only for these few days. He was the only amateur tomake the cut and, after a 68 on Saturday, was at three under for thetournament. The 68 is the lowest score by an amateur since JamesDriscoll's in the first round in 2001.
"I was very happy to come over here and play the Masters,"Matsuyama said. "I wasn't sure whether I would be able to encouragethe people in Japan by my play. But at least I really wanted toenjoy this experience."
Matsuyama earned his spot in the Masters by winning the AsianAmateur last October. The tournament is sponsored in part by AugustaNational Golf Club and the Royal and Ancient Golf Club to spurdevelopment in golf's fastest-growing market, with the trip to theMasters the biggest perk for the winner.
Like the rest of golf's Kiddie Corps, Matsuyama's earliestmemories of the Masters are from 1997, when a young Tiger Woods blewaway the field on his way to his first Green Jacket. But after theearthquake, Matsuyama wasn't sure if this was the right time to tryto follow in Woods' footsteps.
Matsuyama's family live in Ehime, more than 500 miles fromSendai, and was spared the quake's devastation. Matsuyama escapedit, too; he was in Australia training at the time.
But he returned to Sendai shortly afterwards and found his dormroom a shambles, and had trouble finding food in the two days he wasthere.
"I was very shocked to see that much devastation in the placewhere I live," Matsuyama said through an interpreter. "I wasn't ableto calm myself."
After talking to his coach, Matsuyama decided he wouldn't behelping anyone by staying amid the destruction. At least if he wentto the Masters he'd be doing something. "After that, I was able tofocus myself to play golf," he said. "This is one of the best thingsI can do to cope with the situation."
With its rolling hills and fickle greens, Augusta National ischallenge enough for experienced players, let alone amateurs. Noamateur has ever won, and there are years none has made the cut. Tohave any hope of success, an amateur needs to latch on to a veteranand soak up all the knowledge he can, or have his caddie pick thebrain of one who's been here plenty of times.
Matsuyama did neither. His caddie, Taisho Okabe, is one of histeam-mates at Tohoku Fukushi, and they figured out Augusta Nationalbetween themselves.
"Going through the practice rounds, we learnt together,"Matsuyama said.
Matsuyama played decently the first two days, but flirted withthe cut line after closing with two bogeys on Friday. He then spentthe afternoon scouring TV and the internet for updates, hoping he'dmake the cut.
He did, right on the number. The pressure off, Matsuyama playedbeautifully on Saturday.
"I'm very happy that I was able to make the cut and I was able toplay really well today," Matsuyama said afterwards. "I would like todo my best and play well tomorrow."
Matsuyama plans to leave on Monday for Sendai, and has no ideawhat he will find upon his return. But he is grateful for thesecurity he's found between the ropes. "I was very glad," he said,"to be able to play in this beautiful place."
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