Matsuyama nervous at joining Masters champions club

Defending Masters champion Hideki Matsuyama says he will start feeling nervous long before he tees off at Augusta National next week, notably at Tuesday's Masters Champions Dinner.

The first Japanese man to win a major and the first Asian-born golfer to win the green jacket feels the expectations after his history-making triumph last April.

"Looking forward to returning to Augusta National," Matsuyama said. "I really hope I play well. There's some expectations from myself, whether it's pressure or not.

"The same with the Champions Dinner. I don't speak English very well and so it's kind of a two-sided coin. I'm looking forward to it, of course, to be with all those great past Masters champions, but at the same time, too, very nervous about the speech I will be giving."

Matsuyama hasn't revealed his contribution to the menu for the legends' gathering.

His preparations for his title defense have been disrupted by back issues that forced him to withdraw from the Players Championship followed by a sore neck that saw him pull out of the Texas Open.

"I've been receiving a lot of treatment, getting prepared," he said after the Players. "I'm going to do my very best to be as prepared as I can to defend my title.

"I haven't been able to practice as much as I'd like, but what I have been doing, I feel like I'm on the right track. Hopefully I can find that same form I started the year out with."

World number 12 Matsuyama won last October's Zozo Championship and January's Sony Open in Hawaii.

Matsuyama downplayed his role as a pioneer despite his historic feat, paying tribute to the generations of Japanese players who came before him.

"Being the first Japanese to win a major, and especially the Masters, has made me really happy," Matsuyama