Hideki Matsuyama, of Japan, holds the trophy after winning the Masters golf tournament on Sunday, April 11, 2021, in Augusta, Ga. TOKYO: A breakthrough Masters win just months from the Tokyo Olympics has catapulted Japanese golf into the spotlight, bringing deserved recognition for a country that has long loved the game.
"The Masters is a tournament that everyone has heard of, whether they play golf or not," Yamanaka told AFP.AdvertisementMatsuyama's victory was watched by a rapt TV audience in his home country, where around 7 million people play golf.At a large driving range in Tokyo on Monday, amateur players were savouring Matsuyama's victory as they hit balls off the tees.
But golf was popular in Japan long before, fuelled by players like Masashi"Jumbo" Ozaki and Tsuneyuki"Tommy" Nakajima, who found international success without managing to win a major.Matsuyama's win has even sparked speculation that he could be asked to light the Olympic cauldron at the Tokyo opening ceremony on July 23.
The number of Japanese golfers has decreased since the 1980s, when the sport's close relationship with business made it"an important tool" for companies, Yamanaka said. Yamanaka says golf has become more accessible for people of all ages in recent years, and that more women and young people are getting involved.
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