Hideki Matsuyama carded a closing 73 to claim a one-shot victory at the 2021 Masters Tournament.

Ten years after Matsuyama made a sterling debut as the best amateur at Augusta National, he claimed the ultimate trophy and is the first Japanese winner of a men's major.

The 29-year-old entered the final day at Augusta National with a commanding four shot lead and he had extended that to six as he reached Amen Corner but the procession turned to high drama on the back nine.

Dropped shots on the 12th, 15th and 16th meant his advantage was trimmed to two shots and when he found sand on the 18th, you could feel the tension around the famous final green.

He splashed out to five feet and while he needed two putts for a bogey, that was enough to give him a ten under par total and a one shot victory over American Will Zalatoris.

Two more home favourites in Xander Schauffele and Jordan Spieth were then at seven under, a shot clear of Spaniard Jon Rahm and Australian Marc Leishman.

Japan has had two winners in the women's Majors but Matsuyama has now shattered that ceiling for the men, beating his own finish of second at the 2017 U.S. Open and that of Isao Aoki, who also finished second at the same event 41 years ago.

Shingo Katayama and Toshimitsu Izawa had both finished fourth at the Masters before this week, and Matsuyama's victory completed a Japanese double down Magnolia Lane, with Tsubasa Kajitani winning this year's Augusta National Women's Amateur.