matsuyama
repeats

“creating heroes” to foster golf’s growth in the region was much of the appeal for augusta national chairman billy payne and r&a ceo peter dawson when they helped establish the asian amateur championship in 2009. that it would take just three years to get their first legitimate one, however, is probably sooner than anticipated. with a bogey-free final-round 67 at singapore island cc, Japan’s hideki matsuyama won the title for a second straight year, beating south korea’s soo-min lee by one stroke and boosting his reputation locally and internationally. last april the 19-year-old student at tohoko fukushi university was the masters’ unlikely low amateur, finishing t-27 just weeks after an earthquake and subsequent tsunami devastated the city of sendai, where he attends school. in the ensuing months matsuyama helped with the relief efforts and returned to his studies (he intends to graduate in 2013). matsuyama’s first showing at augusta went far in legitimizing the asian amateur, proving its champion was worthy of an invitation into the year’s first major. his return trip in 2012 will further the amateur championship’s mission. in matsuyama the event has a humble winner who, although not quite comfortable with the idea of being a “hero,” is the type of role model payne and dawson envisioned. —Ryan Herrington