Golf: Matsuyama becomes Japan's first Masters champion after tense final round

Hideki Matsuyama delivered golf-mad Japan the grandest prize of all on Sunday becoming his country's first ever winner of the Masters. Ten years after Matsuyama made a sterling debut as the best amateur at Augusta National, he claimed the ultimate trophy to become the first Japanese winner of the green jacket and a major. Matsuyama closed with a 1-over 73 and a one-shot victory that was only close at the end, and never seriously in doubt after Xander Schauffele’s late charge ended with a triple bogey on the par-3 16th. Matsuyama had a four-shot lead heading into the final day and, despite some nervy moments the 29-year-old held on to win on 10 under par. American debutant Will Zalatoris was his closest challenger at nine under. Justin Rose, who led for two rounds, faded on the final day and finished on five under par.