'Making Japan proud': Tiger Woods congratulates Hideki Matsuyama for history-making Masters win

Hideki Matsuyama made history Sunday, becoming the first Japanese male golfer to win a major championship by wrapping up the 2021 Masters title.

His history-making win earned kudos from the biggest name in the golf world: Tiger Woods.

"Making Japan proud Hideki," Woods wrote on his verified Twitter account. "Congratulations on such a huge accomplishment for you and your country. This historical @TheMasters win will impact the entire golf world."

Woods, who was absent from the 2021 tournament as he continues his recovery from a February car crash, has captured the green jacket five times, most recently in 2019, the most recent Masters to be played in its traditional April timeslot. That title marked Woods' first major in nearly 11 years, and 15th major title overall.

Woods himself made Masters history when he won his first green jacket in 1997. That victory, the first major win of his career, made Woods the first African-American winner at Augusta National.

Matsuyama is just the second man from an Asian country to ever win a major, per The Associated Press. Y.E. Yang of South Korea beat out Woods to win the 2009 PGA Championship.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Hideki Matsuyama earns praise from Tiger Woods after Masters win