Matsuyama in race for fitness ahead of Masters title defence

Hideki Matsuyama is in a race for fitness as he prepares to defend his historic Masters title at Augusta National Golf Club.

Matsuyama became the first Japanese man to win a major golf title and the first Asian-born golfer to don the green jacket last year, but arrived at the iconic course in Georgia nursing a neck injury that caused him to pull out of the Texas Open midway through the second round last week.

The world number 12 said he suffered the injury on the way to a tie for 20th at the Arnold Palmer Invitational in early March.

"Last couple of weeks have been a struggle," he admitted Tuesday as he prepared to launch his title defence -- and host the traditional Champions Dinner on Tuesday night.

"Hopefully I can find my game and be a worthy defending champion.

"I had a lot of treatment last week, though, at Valero Texas Open. Monday and Tuesday, I was pain free, feeling really good. Then woke up Wednesday morning, and the neck was stiff again.

"But I've had, again, a lot of treatment the last couple of days. I just came from the practice range and really felt good. It's probably the best I felt in a long time.

"So I'm looking forward to Thursday, and hopefully I'll be 100% percent by then."

Matsuyama had enjoyed a successful start to the 2021-22 season, winning the Zozo Championship late last year before a dramatic playoff victory at the Sony Open in Hawaii in January.

While his first major title brought a host of perks, such as meeting the prime minister of Japan, Matsuyama said the biggest lingering thrill was simply being announced on the first tee of every tournament as the reigning Masters champion.

"That was a highlight that I was able to relive almost every week that I played," he said.

"Last week in Texas, it was a