The Asian golfers we’re keeping an eye on at this year’s Masters
We'll be rooting for Collin Morikawa, Hideki Matsuyama, Min Woo Lee, and more at the first major golf tournament of the year
From left, Collin Morikawa, Hideki Matsuyama, and Min Woo Lee.
Photo illustration by Ryan Quan
Words by Quin Scott
On Thursday, the best golfers in the world teed off for the first round of the Masters at Augusta National Golf Club in Augusta, Georgia. The first major tournament of the year, the Masters is one of the highlights of the golf calendar, and this year features several players of Asian descent who could make a run for the fabled green jacket. Here are a few contenders to watch:
Collin Morikawa
The headliner of this group, Collin Morikawa is coming off three top-10 finishes at the Masters in the past three years, including tying for third at last year’s tournament. The 28-year-old Los Angeles native of Japanese and Chinese descent is currently ranked fourth in the Official World Golf Ranking, and has already won two majors in his relatively young career (the 2020 PGA Championship and the 2021 Open Championship).
While there are plenty of reasons to talk about Morikawa for his performance, he’s been making headlines in the golf world lately after a series of comments on what he (or any golfer) owes the media. These sorts of narratives about athlete-media relations crop up from time to time in the 24/7 sports news cycles; regardless, Morikawa will likely make news this weekend, whether he wants to discuss it or not.
Hideki Matsuyama
Hideki Matsuyama won the Masters in 2021, becoming the first male Japanese golfer to win a major. He’s routinely in contention, finishing in the top-20 at the Masters in eight of the last 10 years.
Matsuyama is also coming off a strong 2024, winning the Olympic bronze medal in Paris for Japan and notching two PGA tour wins. He was subject to some ugly racially insensitive press of late, so here’s hoping for a successful, microaggression-free weekend for Matsuyama.
Min Woo Lee
For those interested in where gamer culture meets and golf, Min Woo Lee is your guy. The 23rd-ranked golfer in the world is a big Call of Duty fan, which apparently explains why fans shout “let him cook” (a common COD gamer phrase) and wear COD-related costumes to cheer on the Australian golfer born to South Korean parents. For those who are bewildered and unnerved by the idea of “the intersection of gamer and golf culture” (raises hand), Lee is still an exciting watch for his powerful swing that allows him to hit balls at distances far greater than you’d expect for the 155-pounder.
The 26-year-old Lee is coming off a win at the Houston Open a couple weeks ago, and could ride that momentum to a strong showing at Augusta. A win would also go a long way to him catching up to his older sister, two-time major champion Minjee Lee.
There are several other players of Asian descent who could make noise this weekend. Korean American Michael Kim is coming off five top-15 finishes worldwide in 2025, and Indian American Akshay Batia tied for third place at the Players Championship in March. And Jason Day, the Australian whose mother Dening is Filipino, is seeking to win his first Masters. His play has to speak loudly, because his clothing, unfortunately, won’t.
Published on April 11, 2025
Words by Quin Scott
Quin Scott is a writer, painter, and educator in the Pacific Northwest. They like reading, running, and making jokes with their friends.
Art by Ryan Quan
Ryan Quan is the Social Media Editor for JoySauce. This queer, half-Chinese, half-Filipino writer and graphic designer loves everything related to music, creative nonfiction, and art. Based in Brooklyn, he spends most of his time dancing to hyperpop and accidentally falling asleep on the subway. Follow him on Instagram at @ryanquans.