Golf
TIGER SAYS MATSUYAMA’S MASTERS WIN WILL HAVE GLOBAL IMPACT ON GOLF
A new golf era has dawned in the Land of the Rising Sun thanks to Hideki Matsuyama’s victory Sunday (April 11) at the Masters, the first major triumph by a Japanese man.
And global golf icon Tiger Woods says Matsuyama’s one-stroke win over American Will Zalatoris for the Green Jacket will resonate worldwide.
“Making Japan proud Hideki,” Woods tweeted. “Congratulations on such a huge accomplishment for you and your country. This historical @TheMasters win will impact the entire golf world.”
Matsuyama hopes his success will inspire legions of Japanese golfers to follow his example and launch careers in the sport, much the way “Tigermania” sparked greater interest after Woods won the 1997 Masters.
“I hope it will affect golf in a good way, not only those who are golfers already but the youngsters who are inclined to play golf,” Matsuyama said through a translator.
“I hope they will see this victory and think it’s cool and try and follow in my footsteps.
“Maybe a lot of younger golfers thought, ‘That’s an impossibility,’ but with me doing it they will realise it is possible and if they set their minds to it they can do it.”
Australia’s Adam Scott, the 2013 Masters champion and the only man from his homeland to win the Masters, says the new champion can expect his own “Matsu-mania” in Japan.
“He’s a bit like a Tiger Woods to the rest of the world, Hideki in Japan,” Scott said. “He has got such a big following every week, no matter how he plays anyway.
“I think he’d become the superstar of Japan if he isn’t already. I don’t think he really feels the weight of expectation like we all kind of can see what it would mean for Japan and golf over there.”
A huge media contingent follows Matsuyama, noted three-time Masters champion Nick Faldo.
“It’s a fanatical nation for golf. Golf is on the national news,” Faldo said. “The weight he’s carrying… the intensity is 10 times more than a regular tournament.”
South Africa’s Louis Oosthuizen, the 2010 British Open champion, sees only good things for golf-loving Japan and its unprecedented champion.
“I think it’s time for someone that side (of the world) winning a major and it’ll be great for Hideki and for his country,” Oosthuizen said. “The Japanese people are great people, and they love their golf. I think it’ll be a great thing for his country.”
South Africa’s Ernie Els, a two-time US Open and two-time British Open champion, told Golf Channel his win would be “a cherry on the cake for the whole nation – really unbelievable. It would be incredible. Golf in Japan is such a huge sport.”
Mexico’s Abraham Ancer made the Tiger comparison when he saw how Matsuyama was treated in Japan.
“When I was there for the Zozo, the people watching him and Tiger. It was like a major,” Ancer said. “So for him to get this W, it’s huge for Japan.
“I had no idea how big the following was of golf down there, and it was amazing. It will mean the world I’m sure for all the Japanese people for him to win.”
-AFP
The inaugural edition of the Nigeria Maritime Golf Challenge will tee off on Thursday at the prestigious Ikoyi Club 1938 Golf Course, bringing together 81 golfers from across the country in celebration of World Maritime Day.
Organised by QUBES LLC, the one-day tournament is designed to commemorate the annual global observance on September 25 under the theme “Our Ocean, Our Obligation, Our Opportunity.”
Chief Executive Officer of QUBES LLC, Lanre Bayewu, told journalists ahead of the event that the competition aims to showcase Nigeria’s maritime industry through sport while fostering greater networking opportunities within the sector.
“The tournament structure accommodates golfers of various skill levels and ensures broad participation from both maritime industry professionals and the wider golfing community,” Bayewu said.
The championship will feature seven competitive categories, including Longest Drive, Nearest Pin (male and female), Female Winners, Veterans, General Category Winner Net, Maritime Category Winner, and Overall Best Gross. Winners will go home with trophies and cash prizes.
Top executives and senior management of Nigeria’s leading maritime agencies, including the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) and the Nigerian Shippers’ Council, are expected to attend as special guests.
According to Bayewu, the event represents a strategic initiative to project the Nigerian maritime industry onto both global and sporting stages, while also strengthening professional relationships across the community.
Join the Sports Village Square channel on WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029Vaz7mEIGk1FxU8YIXb0H
Tiger Woods announced Friday that he underwent surgery to repair a nerve impingement in his lower back.
Woods, 48, has not played competitive golf since missing the cut at the Open Championship in July.
“The surgery went smoothly, and I’m hopeful this will help alleviate the back spasms and pain I was experiencing throughout most of the 2024 season,” the 15-time major champion wrote in a statement on X, formerly Twitter. “I look forward to tackling this rehab and preparing myself to get back to normal life activities, including golf.”
Per Woods, Dr. Sheeraz Qureshi of Hospital for Special Surgery in West Palm Beach, Fla. performed the surgery.
Woods made his first start of the season in February at the Genesis Invitational, his foundation’s tournament, but had to withdraw early in his second round due to illness.
Woods made the cut at the Masters — for a record-breaking 24th straight start — but finished last among the 60 golfers who played the weekend. Then came missed cuts at the PGA Championship, U.S. Open and The Open, where he never shot a round of par or better.
-Reuters
Golf and Country Club, Africa’s most prestigious golf destination is taking the golf in Nigeria to a higher level by rolling out the IBB Golf Classic, a new premium tournament.
In a show of commitment to promoting the sport of golf and fostering community engagement, the Executive Committee of the IBB Golf Club paid a special visit to General Ibrahim Babangida, former Nigerian President and Life Patron of the Club.
General Ibrahim Babangida applauded the superb management of IBB Golf Club, the relentless pursuit of golfing excellence and its demonstrable commitment to boosting Nigeria’s profile through golf.
During the visit, the Exco members pledged to host the prestigious Ibb Golf Tournament Classic, marking a significant step in the club’s efforts to elevate the profile of golf in the region.
The visit was led by the President of the Golf Club, Ibrahim Babayo, Vice Captain Dr. James Agbonhese, and the female Captain Dame Julie Donli.
The Exco members expressed their dedication to organizing the IBB Golf Classic, a world-class golf tournament that would foster community comradeship and attract participants and spectators from far and wide.
The Club Captain Ibrahim Babayo emphasized the club’s determination to showcase the talent and passion for golf within the region. He commended General Ibrahim Babangida for his visionary leadership, strategic thinking and nationalistic foresight in establishing the IBB Golf Club in 1987.
IBB International Golf and Country Club course is an 18-hole course covering about 101 Hectares (1,000,740m2) of land, located at the choice Aso drive area of Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory of Nigeria.
Within the course is a driving range, putting green and practice bunkers with a handful of professional golfers and trainers at the service of the members.
The EXCO pledged to uphold the high standards of the Club and stated that: “At IBB International Golf and Country Club, we take pride in providing the luxury and ambiance deserving of our distinguished members. We are also determined to take the game of golf to the grassroots so the game is accessible to more Nigerians.”
General Ibrahim Babangida commended the IBB Golf Club for its proactive approach to promoting golf and expressed his support for the upcoming tournament. He emphasized the positive impact of such events on the local community, stating, “The IBB Golf Tournament Classic will not only elevate the status of the sport in our region but also contribute to the overall growth and development of our community.”
- World Cup1 week ago
BREAKING: At last FIFA’s Axe falls on South Africa!
- World Cup1 week ago
South Africa to Appeal FIFA Ruling Over Mokoena Eligibility Case
- Nigerian Football1 week ago
Super Eagles Set for Double Friendly Showdown with Venezuela and Colombia in USA
- World Cup6 days ago
FIFA Sanction on South Africa Offers Super Eagles a Lifeline — But a Lesson from History Looms
- World Cup1 week ago
Sport Minister Orders Probe into SAFA over Bafana’s Costly Points Deduction
- CAF Confederation Cup1 week ago
Asante Kotoko End Kwara United’s Confederation Cup Campaign in Abeokuta
- U-20 FOOTBALL1 week ago
Two penalty appeal lost as Flying Eagles stumble at first hurdle
- World Cup4 days ago
Super Eagles Walk Tightrope as Nine Key Players Risk Suspension in World Cup Qualifiers