AUGUSTA, Georgia (April 10, 2011) -- Hideki Matsuyama lived out a dream of all amateur golfers: walking up the 18th hole with a birdie putt and the crowd cheering for you. A few moments later he would hole that putt and prepare himself for the Butler Cabin ceremony to be crowned the low amateur at the 2011 Masters.

Matsuyama's 72-73-68-74 bested a record- setting field of six amateurs that included the Golfweek/amateurgolf.com top-ranked player in the world, Peter Uihlein. He also tied defending champion Phil Mickelson and scored lower than several top-ten world ranked professionals.

Although Matsuyama missed the coveted 16th spot and ties for an automatic return ticket to Augusta next year, he validated the newly created exemption for the Asian Amateur champion with his exceptional play.

Matsuyama plans to return to Sendai, Japan and commence volunteer work with his teammates at Tohoku Fukushi University.

About all the Amateur Participants:

Hideki Matsuyama ( 72-73-68-74--287) Matsuyama qualifed as the 2010 Asian Amateur Champion where he posted a final-round 67. He is the first Japanese Amateur to play in the Masters. Attends Tohoku Fukushi University and resides in Ehime, Japan. amateurgolf.com/Golfweek player rankings: 48

David Chung (72-76--148). Chung qualified as the runner up at the 2010 US Amateur at Chambers Bay. Chung won the 2010 Western Amateur and the 2010 Porter Cup. He is Junior at Stanford University, majoring in communications. amateurgolf.com/Golfweek player rankings: 2

Lion Kim (76-72-- 148). Kim qualified as the 2010 US Amateur Public Links Champion. Kim is a senior at the University of Michigan and although he was born in South Korea he lists his hometown as Lake Mary, Fla. amateurgolf.com/Golfweek player rankings: 37

Peter Uihlein (72-77--149). Uihlein qualified as the 2010 US Amateur champion defeating David Chung at Chambers Bay 4 and 2 in the 36-hole final. Uihlein won the 2010 Sahalee Players Championship and also went 4-0 in the 2009 Walker Cup. Uihlein is a Junior at the number one ranked Oklahoma State University. amateurgolf.com/Golfweek player rankings: 1

Jin Jeong (73-77-- 150) Jeong qualified as the 2010 British Amateur Champion. He won the Silver Medal at the 2010 British Open for low amateur. Jeong was born in South Korea but he resides in Australia. amateurgolf.com/Golfweek player rankings: 6

Nathan Smith (75-77--152) -- Smith qualified as the 2010 Mid-Amateur champion, which he won for a third time. He has won the Western Pennsylvania Amateur for the last four years and he was runner-up at the prestigous Sunehanna Amateur. amateurgolf.com/Golfweek player rankings: 23

***Previous Coverage*** AUGUSTA, Georgia (April 9, 2011) -- Hideki Matsuyama is not done at the 2011 Masters. An impressive 4-under-par 68 has him tied for 18th place at 3-under par. A solid start with clean card of 2-under 34 going out with no bogeys was followed by another 2-under 34 coming in with three birdies and just one bogey (No. 14) on the day.

Matsuyama is currently ranked 145 in the amateurgolf.com/Golfweek rankings, having played in just two recent points events prior to the Masters.

*** Previous Coverage ***

AUGUSTA, Georgia (April 8, 2011) -- In a year were six amateurs were entered in the Masters -- more than any other since 1957 -- reigning Asian amateur champion Hideki Matsuyama is the sole non-professional to make the cut at +1 for the event.  The US Amateur champion and the world number one ranked amateur Peter Uihlein carded a 72-77--149 along with the Publinks champion Lion Kim (76- 72--149)

Jin Jeong, the British Amateur champ, shot 73- 77--150 and the three time Mid-Am champ Nathan Smith shot 75-77--152.  

The US Amateur runner-up David Chung (72- 76--148) finished at +4, missing the two-day cut by just three shots

Matsuyama earned his spot into the tournament via the newly created exemption for the winner of the Asian Amateur. Any time an amateur makes the cut it is special, but this year there is more to the story. Matsuyama goes to college in Sendai, the area pummeled by the massive earthquake and tsunami just a month ago.  Ryo Ishikawa, the young phenom and media darling is giving away all his earnings to help the people of Japan.  Matsuyama will earn no money this week but he can give the people so much more. Yes, he is playing with a heavy heart but he is also playing out the dream of every Japanese player to ever put a peg in the ground at Augusta National. 

"I'm not sure I should play at the Masters, even at this very moment," said Matusyama. "Still, I've decided to play. So many people have pushed me. My teammates, my parents. I'm here for the people who made me who I am."

The Masters is revered around the world as the pinnacle of golf, but to the people of Japan it is something more, something almost beyond the game itself.  They even know the words to the Masters theme song!

For Japanese players to tee it up at Augusta is special. For them to make the cut it is even more so.  For an amateur to make the cut … well ganbate Hideki, ganbate.

Ganbate:  Japanese for good luck, do your best, we are behind you all the way.

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