Japanese golfer Hideki Matsuyama has made history for Japan by winning the 85th US Masters at Augusta National Golf Club. 

The 29-year-old golfer’s victory at Augusta National is his first major title, as well as the first major title won by a Japanese male golfer. The prize money won by Hideki (-10) stands at US $2,070,000, whilst No. 2 Will Zalatoris (-9) earned $1,242,000 – not bad for a newcomer to major golf. US contenders Xander Schauffele and Jordan Spieth finished T3 at -7 after four rounds. 

Other notables in the top ten include Spains’ John Rahm (-6), Australian Marc Leishman (-6), Justin Rose (-5) and Canadian Corey Conners (-4). Matsuyama’s Masters victory neared collapse on the 15th as a long tee shot landed his golf ball in the water, but was saved by Schauffele’s blunder on the 16th by finding the water himself. Golf is relatively elitist in Japan, with fewer clubs to population than most other countries. US Open winner Andy North said Matsuyama’s win would ‘change golf in Japan.’