First Two Majors go to Asian Players

Thailand’s Patty Tavatanakit won the first major of the year last week at the LPGA’S ANA Inspiration, and now Japan’s Hideki Matsuyama has made it two in a row by grabbing 2021The Masters.

This is huge for the future of the game, and especially for golf across Asia, with thousands of youngster keen to take up the game.

Ironically, it was Hideki whose victory at the Asian Amateur Championship back in 2010 won him an invitation as an 18-year-old to compete in the 2011 Masters.

He went on to be leading amateur that year and won the Silver Cup, which is presented to the lowest scoring amateur.[ where he became the leading Amateur.

Meanwhile Patty Tavatanakitwon the Callaway Junior World Golf Championship for girls in 2014, and was named the 2015–2016 Thailand Amateur Ladies Golf Association Player of the Year, having won the Asian Junior Golf Association Rolex Tournament of Champions and Ping Invitational.

Youth Programmes

Both Hideki and Patty started playing golf at an early age and went through their countries excellent golf programmes, and it seems to have paid off handsomely.

Victory for Matsuyamameans he becomes the first Japanese players to wear the famous green jacket. Japanese golfers are fanatics about their golf, and even non golfers will understand the significant of the Green Jacket.

Hideki is expected to be invited to carry the torch at the opening ceremony at the 2021 Olympics in Tokyo. He wins a check for US$2,070,000 and is expected to become a billionaire through Japanese endorsements as well.

These two talented players deserved their winner’s trophies, however perhaps the biggest winner is Augusta and the R &A. Both have promoted golf to youngsters with the Asia Pacific Amateur championships, and the newer Drive, Pitch and Putt Competitions live on TV.

The Covid19 pandemic has in fact helped golf, with reports of increased rounds of golf globally, as people jump at the chance of getting some fresh air in a sport that promotes, social distancing.

These two wins are a great boost and just helps to allow golf to make more headlines.