Wikimedia Creative Commons from Boston Public Library
Tiger Woods joined other superstars from the golfing world to be among the first to offer congratulations to Japan’s Hideki Matsuyama for winning the Masters.
Woods, whose mother is Thai American, is the first Asian American to don the green jacket, a tradition given to every Masters champion and one of golf’s highest honors.
Matsuyama’ is the first Asian born player to win at Augusta.
Ja
Jack Nicklaus, who has more major titles than anyone in golfing history, followed Woods in extending his best wishes.
In an op-ed in The Guardian, blogger Sam Yip said Matsuyama’s feat is one Asian Americans can take pride in. at a time many badly need it- a time of anti-Asian hate in pandemic proportions.
Yip acknowledged that the Asian American experience has little in common with Matsuyama. Yet he wrote:
One thing that holds us all together is the same meaningless taunt of “go back to China” or “you don’t belong here.” The only thing we as a community can do is collectively celebrate Asian success stories like Matsuyama’s, no matter how rarely they come- and even if they’re from someone we seem to have little in common with.
AsAmNews has Asian America in its heart. We’re an all-volunteer effort of dedicated staff and interns. Check out our new Instagram account. Go to our Twitter feed and Facebook page for more content. Please consider interning, joining our staff, or submitting a story or making a contribution.
