[ad_1]
Masters winner Hideki Matsuyama says he’s higher ready to defend his Inexperienced Jacket than host the standard Champions dinner regardless of nagging again issues.
The primary Japanese man to win a golf main, Matsuyama obtained the season off to a superb begin by successful the Zozo Championship in his house nation in October and claiming an eighth PGA Tour title on the Sony Open in January.
However his Augusta preparations suffered a setback when the 30-year-old was pressured to withdraw from the Gamers Championship two weeks in the past, received by Australia’s Cameron Smith, attributable to a again harm that solely not too long ago allowed him to return to follow.
“I’ve been receiving a variety of remedy getting ready,” Matsuyama stated by a translator throughout a convention name to debate the April 7-10 Masters.
“Yesterday was the primary day I used to be in a position to have follow session and so for the rest of this week and subsequent week I’ll do my finest to arrange properly to defend my title at Augusta.”
Matsuyama is hoping to play within the Texas Open the week earlier than the Masters whereas on the similar time placing the ending touches to the menu for the Champions Dinner he’ll host as reigning champion at Augusta Nationwide.
The world No.12 gave no hints about what will likely be served however admitted to being nervous concerning the speech he’ll give to a room full of golf greats from Jack Nicklaus to Tiger Woods.
“In fact, I am trying ahead to returning to Augusta Nationwide because the defending champion,” Matsuyama stated.
“There are some expectations from myself, whether or not it is stress or not.
“The identical with the Champions Dinner. I do not communicate English very properly and so it is sort of a two-sided coin.
“I am trying ahead to it, after all, to be with all these nice previous Masters champions however, on the similar time too, very nervous concerning the speech I will likely be giving.”
Historical past exhibits that Matsuyama can deal with stress.
He began the ultimate spherical at Augusta final 12 months with a 4 stroke cushion and wanted all of it as he held his nerve to eke out a one-shot victory over American Will Zalatoris.
“The stress, I do not know the way properly I managed it. I suppose if I received, I used to be in a position to management it properly,” recalled Matsuyama.
[ad_2]
Source link