‘Banzai’ at the Masters

Almost 80 years after Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto led Japanese air and naval forces in a devastating attack on the US Pacific Fleet at Pearl Harbor, a 29-year-old professional golfer, Hideki Matsuyama, made history by becoming the first Japanese to win the prestigious Masters Tournament in Augusta, Georgia, outgunning and defeating some of the world’s best golfers.

The Masters is one of four major championships in professional golf. Originally known as the Augusta National Invitation Tournament, it became the Masters after one of its founders, Clifford Roberts, an investment banker, suggested that the tournament be limited to the “masters of golf” to include former champions and any player who has won a major tournament in the last five years. Since then, there have been new categories added, including amateurs but participation is only by invitation.

One of the iconic photos to come out of the Pacific War is that of Japanese soldiers standing atop captured enemy artillery pieces with their arms raised, forming a victory sign and presumably shouting “Banzai!” The word comes from a Japanese battle cry meaning “Long Live his Majesty the Emperor” and wishing him “ten thousand years of long life.” Watching Matsuyama donning the “green jacket,” emblem of victory at the Masters, I could almost hear him shouting “Banzai!” to himself so as not to upset any lingering sensitivities. Matsuyama’s victory was worth $2.07 million, with endorsements expected to reach $600 million. One sports financial analyst predicts that his lifetime career earnings would eventually reach the $1 billion mark. Baseball is Japan’s favorite major sport with soccer a close second. But with Matsuyama’s win, this could open up a new chapter in Japan’s golfing history.

Actually, Matsuyama who happens to share the same birthday (Feb. 25) as my son, is no stranger to the Masters. In 2011, he played as an amateur in Augusta, securing an invitation as the Asian amateur champion. He won the Silver Cup as the best amateur player. After turning professional he played in the 2015 Masters edition, finishing No. 5 in the rankings.

Some interesting notes about the Masters and Augusta National.

The “green jacket” that goes to the winner is returned after a year and stored in a special cloak room although it remains the personal property of the individual. Membership at Augusta National is strictly by invitation. It is male-dominated. The latest info indicates there are three female members one of whom is former secretary of state Condoleezza Rice, who is African American.

For many years prior to my last major surgery, I was a certified golf addict, playing several times a week mostly with Philippine Military Academy classmates at military golf courses. I must have spent a small fortune experimenting with all kinds of clubs and all brands of balls, thinking I could improve my game. But at best, I remained a bogey player and while others were scoring holes in one, I never even got close to one. Even on trips abroad, golf was on my mind. On one unforgettable occasion, one of my cousins in California graciously offered to treat me to a golfing weekend at Carmel-By-The-Sea where we spent three beautiful golfing days playing at three of the most scenic courses in the United States—Spanish Bay, Spyglass, and Pebble Beach. To save on lodging, we stayed at a motel some distance away from the courses.

The Philippines has produced a number of golfing greats. One of them, Larry Montes, a former caddy, won the 1929 Philippine Open but was asked to leave the clubhouse halfway through the awarding ceremonies supposedly because of certain regulations. An American member, William “Bill” Shaw was so incensed by what happened. He decided to form the Wack Wack Golf and Country Club open to “all races and free from any discriminatory practices.” Shaw Boulevard in Mandaluyong is named after him.

Japan and South Korean golfers have been enormously successful in many international tournaments mainly because of their sense of discipline and dedication. When I was posted in Bangkok in the 1960s, some of our professional golfers arrived to participate in the Thailand Open. Unfortunately, they spent the evening before the start of the tournament having a great time with their kababayan, staying up well into the wee hours of the morning. The result was predictable. One was late for his tee time. The others never got close to the top of the leader board rankings. By and large, their behavior was a reflection of much of our society—a lack of discipline and dedication in carrying out our duties and responsibilities.

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