The Masters: A Lesson on Culture

Watching The Masters at Augusta National Golf Club is a golfer’s dream. It was actually my dream before it became for real. Yes, I went to that heaven for all golfers, so now I want to write about it before I forget it.

I think I need to explain the reason I was so excited about this year’s Masters. This time, my favorite Japanese golfer, who is 44 years old but got so many titles last year, was coming. His name is Hiroyuki Fujita. Have you heard of YAMAHA, which makes motors, guitars, or golf carts? It also makes golf clubs, too. He uses it and I also use it because of him. So he is always my inspiration, especially when I get tired of playing golf. Now, I live in Georgia and my favorite golfer was coming here for The Masters! When he qualified for this tournament, I was so happy. Everybody knows that Augusta National Golf Club is the most beautiful golf course. After he qualified, I was imagining his playing with that amazing scenery!

Then when Masters week was coming, Mrs. Mann, our director of operations for Coosa Junior Golf Academy, said, “Do you want to go to The Masters?” I was shouting so crazy and I thought that I was dreaming. Everything I had imagined was going to be real! I’ll never forget about excitement of that moment.

So on April 11, four Golf Academy students -- Lauri, Hanna, Ava and me -- went to that heaven. When we got in the gate, I thought to myself, "This is not the same world." Everything was white, the flowers were so colorful, and the grass was so soft like it could have been a bed for us. It was like a fairy tale, but the story had not begun yet. We were so excited about own favorite golfers.

We walked around on the golf course and watched a few players. I had never seen this kind of difficult golf course. I heard that there is a witch who makes trouble for the players. If a player hit the green, the ball may fall down. Sometimes, it would get caught in the water hazard. The atmosphere was special. Patrons in the audience also impact the atmosphere because they love golf so deeply. The players get so much pressure from the crowd and are expected to play perfectly. All of this was a new experience for me.

At 1:19 p.m., pm, Fujita started from hole No. 1. I couldn’t watch him at this hole but I was just praying for him. I don’t know how it worked for him, but he got par on it. At No. 2, I was waiting for him near the green. His face was brave but impassive. This is his style, which I respect. He never gets excited, but instead focuses on playing. It is actually hard to do. Golf is a mental sport. Of course you still need skill, but the mental part is most important in my opinion. I learned that from his playing style.

Fujita was playing well on the front 9; he shot 38. But he became a target of the witch on the back 9. Those holes were an impressive thing for me. I was watching on No. 12, which is the middle of Amen Corner. I’m such a small person, so I couldn’t see well. Then two men talked to me. “Come here,” they said. They had a position in the first line. I was so surprised but appreciated that kindness. We were talking about this year’s Masters until Fujita came. One of the men said, “Do you know who he is? His score is not good today, but I’m interested in his playing.” I was explaining with my poor English as much as possible. They were listening to me so seriously. Then the man said, "If he hits well, let’s cheer together.” He was smiling. Fujita is not famous in America, but they respected him. Fujita hit an amazing tee shot on No. 12, and me and the nice man cheered together. This would probably never happen in Japan. We are such shy people, so we normally don’t talk with any strangers like this. But this is the American way, and my favorite thing about America.

After this hole, Fujita hurt his side where he had suffered a stress fracture before The Masters. I actually didn't know this until I read about it online later because he even didn’t change his expression. I noticed real Japanese qualities from him. Fujita is a quiet man, but he has great inner strength. He is the real “samurai” I think. Unfortunately, he missed the cut this time, but everyone was shown something by him certainly. There are so many good golfers in the world. Next to them, he has a really small existence, so he goes on his way. This is the coolest thing ever. I think this is my goal.

At the end, let me talk about Japanese pride. This is the biggest thing for me because I’m in America without the Japanese. I came to America because I didn’t like my Japanese life. This is still true, but I noticed that Japan has the most beautiful mind after I started American life. Then I read an interview with Fujita about the tournament in a foreign country. He said, “I care that I’m from Japan a little bit when I go to the tournament in foreign country. I feel that I’m a representation of Japan. So I can be strong more and struggle.” This is what I always think.

So I took away two big things from this Masters. I’m in America and I love American thinking, like those friendly people I met. But I shouldn’t forget about Japanese culture and ways of thinking, which I call “samurai policy." When I see both more clearly, I can really be Japanese. I hope that I’ll see Fujita at that amazing golf course again. Thanks for that wonderful time. I’ll never forget it.