• Japanese golfer had been nervous about speaking in English but drew a standing ovation at Tuesday’s meal for past winners

AUGUSTA (United States): Honorary Masters starters Jack Nicklaus, Gary Player and Tom Watson praised Hideki Matsuyama’s Champions Dinner efforts and said Thursday his example could inspire more major winners from Japan.

The golf legends struck ceremonial tee shots to launch the 86th Masters at Augusta National, where defending champion Matsuyama had been nervous about speaking in English but drew a standing ovation at Tuesday’s meal for past winners.

“I thought we had the best dinner we ever had. It got us talking,” said Nicklaus. “Hideki gave about a three-minute speech in English. He did not look at a note. He was terrific.”

Watson, a newcomer to the first-tee tradition, watched as Matsuyama aced his foreign language challenge, something the Japanese star admitted he was nervous about.

“After the speech is over, he goes, ‘Whew,'” Watson said. “Everybody got up to give him a standing ovation. Everybody appreciated the effort he put in to go three minutes with his speech in English.”

Player spoke to Matsuyama in Japanese after the speech.

“I was absolutely in awe that he got up and gave this incredible speech,” Player said. “Everybody got up and applauded and made him feel welcome.”

Player said that Matsuyama, the first Asian-born Masters winner and first Japanese man to win a major, is an example for Japanese and Asian talent that green jackets and majors are more within reach than they once might have imagined.

“It was only a matter of time for Japan, so full of enthusiasm (for golf) to get a champion,” Player said. “You’ve had Hideki do it and now you will have a lot of people in Japan thinking they can do it too.”

AFP