Masters winner Hideki Matsuyama is better prepared to defend his green jacket than host the traditional Champions Dinner despite nagging back problems, he said on Tuesday.
The first Japanese man to win a golf major, Matsuyama got the season off to a brilliant start by winning the Zozo Championship in his home country in October and claiming an eighth PGA Tour title at the Sony Open in January.
But Matsuyama's Augusta preparations suffered a setback when the 30-year-old was forced to withdraw from the Players Championship two weeks ago due to a back injury that only recently allowed him to return to practice.