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Golf: Masters champ Matsuyama returns at PGA Byron Nelso

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Agence France-Presse 

<div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img src="http://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2021/reuters/05/12/hideki.jpg"/><figcaption>Japan&#x27;s Hideki Matsuyama celebrates with his green jacket after winning The Masters. File Photo. Brian Snyder, Reuters.</figcaption></figure></div>WASHINGTON -- Masters champion Hideki Matsuyama will try to recapture his form after a month off, including a celebration in Japan, when he tees off Thursday at the US PGA Byron Nelson tournament.Matsuyama became the first men&#x27;s major winner from Japan when he captured the green jacket last month at Augusta National, but had barely picked up a club before practice rounds this week at TPC Craig Ranch in suburban Dallas.&quot;After you win a tournament, you make some adjustments and you go on,&quot; Matsuyama said. &quot;But this time going back to Japan and really not picking up a club much over there, I didn&#x27;t get to practice very much at all.&quot;Coming back here, really one of my goals now is just to try to find my game again and prepare for the PGA Championship next week.&quot;Matsuyama, 29, says he is prepared for the extra attention he will receive next week at Kiawah Island at the year&#x27;s second major tournament.&quot;I realize now the responsibility that goes with a major championship, especially the Masters,&quot; Matsuyama said. &quot;I&#x27;m honored. I&#x27;m flattered by the added attention.&quot;At the same time, sometimes it&#x27;s difficult to say no. But it goes with the territory and, again, grateful that I have this opportunity and I&#x27;ll try my best to prepare well for what&#x27;s to come.&quot;World number 15 Matsuyama spent two weeks in Covid-19 quarantine when he got back home, then spent time with his family. While isolated, he read how his exploits were hailed in his homeland.&quot;I was able to probably read every news article,&quot; Matsuyama said. &quot;Seeing how the Masters win was portrayed in Japan was great, really unforgettable.&quot;A bit embarrassing -- I&#x27;m not used to all that attention -- but grateful that people took notice.&quot;He watched highlights of his Masters victory and relived his most nerve-wracking moments.&quot;While I was watching those highlights, I got nervous again, just like I was playing,&quot; he said. &quot;It was, at some points, difficult to watch because I was so nervous and all those nervous memories were brought back.&quot;Matsuyama wore his green jacket to meet the media and when receiving an award from Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga, but says it hasn&#x27;t changed him.&quot;It was a relief, really, to win the Masters,&quot; he said. &quot;Looking forward, I still have the drive to want to win more on the PGA Tour.&quot;Matsuyama plans on getting some advice before deciding on the meniu for the 2022 Masters Champions Dinner.&quot;Sushi does come to mind,&quot; he said. &quot;I&#x27;m a little worried. I don&#x27;t know if everyone will really like sushi or not.&quot;There&#x27;s a lot of really good food from Japan, some of the best beef in the world, so I&#x27;m thinking about that and looking forward to it next year.&quot;<div>- &#x27;Grinds his tail off&#x27; -</div>Jordan Spieth, third at the Masters, recalled a 2019 event in Japan when he was paired with Matsuyama.&quot;It was six deep the entire first fairway,&quot; Spieth said. &quot;Maybe the most exciting, nerve-wracking crowd I had ever played in front of on a Thursday and Friday. It was just crazy. It&#x27;s next-level stuff.&quot;American Will Zalatoris, the Masters runner-up, was unable to congratulate Matsuyama at Augusta but did so in the course parking lot Tuesday.&quot;It was nice to share a moment and just tell him congratulations,&quot; Zalatoris said. &quot;Making history like that for an entire country is unbelievable.&quot;Top-ranked Dustin Johnson, last year&#x27;s Masters champion, withdrew from the Byron Nelson with a knee injury.South Korean Kang Sung won the most recent Byron Nelson in 2019, before the event moved to his home course.&quot;I live about five miles from here and I&#x27;ve been practicing here probably the last over 10 years,&quot; Kang said. &quot;I&#x27;m very excited and I&#x27;ll be very comfortable this week.&quot;<div>© Agence France-Presse</div>

Masters champion Hideki Matsuyama will try to recapture his form after a month off when he tees off Thursday at the US PGA Byron Nelson tournament.

Masters champion Hideki Matsuyama will try to recapture his form after a month off when he tees off Thursday at the US PGA Byron Nelson tournament.