Hideki Matsuyama an inspiration for golfers ahead of Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship

A new generation of regional golfers, including Singapore’s Justin Kuk and Troy Storm, are bound for Dubai this week, chasing dreams first stirred by the heroics and brilliance of Hideki Matsuyama.

The 16th Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship (AAC), which starts on Oct 23, will bring together 120 of the brightest young talent as they embark on a path first cleared by Matsuyama, whose teenage breakthrough at the same championship in 2010 became the launch pad to the coveted Masters title.

The Emirates Golf Club’s Majlis Course will host the region’s premier amateur men’s championship, where at stake is not only silverware but also two golden tickets – an invitation to the 2026 Masters and an exemption to the British Open.

No figure looms larger over the Asia-Pacific tournament than Matsuyama, who is now regarded as the greatest male golfer Asia has produced.

A two-time Asia-Pacific Amateur champion, the 33-year-old parlayed his 2010 and 2011 successes into a trophy-laden professional career that now boasts 11 PGA Tour victories that includes, most memorably, the 2021 Masters, where he became the first Asian man to slip on the famous Green Jacket.

Matsuyama said: “I owe a great debt of gratitude to Augusta National and will be eternally grateful for the opportunity to play in the Masters and helping me reach my dream to play professional golf. Winning the 2010 AAC was life-changing for me.”

Rising amateur stars such as Japan’s Rintaro Nakano, China’s Zhou Ziqin and An Seong-hyeon of Korea will start among the top contenders, while the likes of Singapore’s Kuk and Troy will strive to produce the week of their lives to challenge for the Asia-Pacific Amateur crown. Since its inception in 2009, players from only four countries – South Korea, China, Japan and Australia – have won the championship.

Kuk, 24, who made his previous AAC appearance in 2021, is looking to improve on Singapore’s best result, which was a tied-fifth finish by James Leow in the 2019 edition in China.

He said: “It’s always been a dream for myself and many players to play in a Major. Being able to have this opportunity by winning the Asia-Pacific Amateur would be very motivating for myself.”

Troy, 16, added: “The Asia-Pacific Amateur is the pinnacle of amateur golf in the region.

“It provides a platform for players like me to test ourselves against the very best, gain international exposure and take important steps towards our professional aspirations. The tournament has already produced so many great champions and it continues to inspire.”

Nakano, who will make his third start in the championship, intends to follow in Matsuyama’s footsteps, and also Takumi Kanaya and Keita Nakajima, who won the Asia-Pacific Amateur in 2018 and 2021 respectively.

After finishing third at Taiheiyo Club in Gotemba in 2024 and T28 at Royal Melbourne in 2023, the 21-year-old Nakano is fired up.

“I think this will be my last AAC, so I want to enjoy it,” said Nakano, who was the 36-hole leader before finishing two strokes behind champion Ding Wenyi of China in 2024.

“Of course, I have winning in mind and I want to play with my full effort while appreciating this tournament that has helped me grow.”

Zhou, 19, will look to improve on last season’s runner-up outing as he continues to underscore his growing potential.

Over the years, Chinese golfers have enjoyed winning runs, with Guan Tianlang (2012), Cheng Jin (2015) and Lin Yuxin (2017, 2019) tasting victory to secure their appearances at the Masters.

In 2013, Guan became the youngest to make the cut at the Masters at the age of 14 years, five months, earning the admiration of golf legend Tiger Woods when they played a practice round together at Augusta National.

For Matsuyama, his name will forever be etched in Japanese golf and the Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship.