Before they turned pro: Hideki Matsuyama

Before becoming Japan's first Masters champion and the first male Japanese player to win a professional major, Hideki Matsuyama showed his promise with a string of amateur successes that included a professional win and a pair of Asian Amateur wins that gave him valuable experience in major championships like the British Open and the Masters.

Matsuyama twice played the Masters as an amateur, finishing low amateur in 2011 with a T27 finish.

Here are a few of the stories from our coverage of Hideki Matsuyama the amateur:

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  Matsuyama to turn professional
  Mar 26, 2013 - Matsuyama, who has made the last two Masters cuts, will debut April 18-21 at the Token Homemate Cup
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  Matsuyama leads in race for low amateur
  Apr 07, 2012 - Hideki Matsuyama holds a six stroke lead for low amateur at The Masters
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  Three amateurs make the Masters cut
  Apr 06, 2012 - Hideki Matsuyama is at 1-over-par and 4 ahead of Patrick Cantlay and Kelly Kraft
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  Cantlay and Matsuyama in contention at Augusta
  Apr 05, 2012 - Two amateurs from opposite sides of the Pacific Ocean are in contention at Augusta National after shooting 1-under 71s in the first round of the Masters
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  Hideki Matsuyama wins on Japan Tour
  Nov 14, 2011 - Hideki Matsuyama, the two-time Asian Amateur champion who impressed at this year’s Masters, won the Taiheiyo Masters on Sunday
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  Matsuyama claims 2011 Asian Amateur
  Oct 02, 2011 - Hideki Matsuyama of Japan punches return ticket to Augusta at the 2011 Asian Amateur Championship
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  Asian Amateur: Campbell hangs on despite Matsuyama's charge
  Oct 01, 2011 - Hideki Matsuyama charged with 7 birdies but Ben Campbell remains leader heading into final round
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  Matsuyama finishes T27 at the Masters
  Apr 10, 2011 - Asian Amateur Champion Hideki Matsuyama birdied the final hole to cap off a brilliant tournament
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  Matsuyama wins Asian Am
  Oct 10, 2010 - 18-year-old Hideki Matsuyama of Ehime, Japan wins by five to score a major victory and Masters invite