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Hideki Matsuyama, of Japan, celebrates after putting on the champion's green jacket after winning the Masters golf tournament on Sunday, April 11, 2021, in Augusta, Ga. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull)
Hideki Matsuyama, of Japan, celebrates after putting on the champion's green jacket after winning the Masters golf tournament on Sunday, April 11, 2021, in Augusta, Ga. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull)Gregory Bull/Associated Press

Hideki Matsuyama to Receive Japan's Prime Minister's Award After Masters Win

Timothy RappApr 28, 2021

Hideki Matsuyama will become the second golfer to receive Japan's Prime Minister's Award, according to Joel Beall of Golf Digest.

Earlier this month, Matsuyama (-10) held off Will Zalatoris (-9) to capture a historic win at the 2021 Masters, becoming the first male golfer from Japan to win a major.

"Hopefully, I'll be a pioneer and many other Japanese will follow," Matsuyama told reporters afterward.

"Amid the prolonged coronavirus crisis, he gave courage to and touched the hearts of everyone across Japan," Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga said at the time.

Ayako Okamoto was the first golfer to win the prestigious award in 1987 after her four wins on the LPGA Tour that season and top-five finishes in every major.

Matsuyama is scheduled to receive the award Friday.

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