AUGUSTA, Ga. » Hideki Matsuyama walked off the eighth green and toward the ninth tee during Thursday’s opening round of the Masters when legendary golfer and playing partner Tom Watson asked him if his mother and father were in the house.

The expression on Matsuyama’s face would have worked well in a MasterCard commercial with the announcer saying "priceless" at just the right moment.

The 20-year-old’s answer was half Japanese, half English — a weird blend of "hai" and "yes."

Undaunted, Watson pressed on.

"Do you have any brothers and sisters?"

That one left Matsuyama lost in translation. He just stared at Watson for a second or two, his expression one of wonder and fear, hoping this man from the Midwest would get the idea.

"I don’t think he understood a word I said," Watson said after his round.

You think?

For most of the day, Matsuyama let his golf do the talking, as the Japanese amateur, who left his teens behind only a month or so ago, fired an opening-round 71. Last year, Matsuyama was the low amateur here, finishing in a tie for 27th — the only one with an "A" beside his name to make the cut. This time around, he’s hoping to improve on that finish. And if Thursday’s opening 18 holes are any indication, he’s got a career ahead of him that could make him a household name.

He opened with a birdie at the first hole, rolling one in from only 6 feet to get the attention of Watson and Sony Open in Hawaii champion Johnson Wagner.

Even with a bogey at the 18th, he beat the two Americans soundly, as Watson shot a 5-over 77 and Wagner a woeful 7-over 79.

As you might have guessed, Matsuyama’s English is as good as Watson’s Japanese. The rising star said through a translator that he was pleased he could match wits with one of the game’s best players —even if he’s 40-something years younger.

"He’s a very solid player," Watson said. "He hits the ball high. He knows what to do with the ball. He shapes the ball when he wants to. He’s raw, but he’s good. There’s a lot of talent in that young man. When I say raw, I mean there’s experience to be had."

Matsuyama did it with power off the tee and a deft touch around the green that led to several par saves along the way. He also did it under the watchful eye of Watson, who received ovations on every tee and green. At the 12th, in the heart of Amen Corner, Matsuyama was putting his tee in the ground when the huge crowd stationed at the 11th green, 12th tee and 13th fairway recognized Watson with a rousing ovation. Matsuyama looked around to see if the emperor from Japan had arrived unexpectedly.

No, it was just Tom Terrific, doffing his cap to the multitudes as Matsuyama prepared to hit his shot at the dangerous par 3.

"It was special," Watson said. "It’s the only tournament that they allow you to play in perpetuity. My chipping let me down today. I could have turned a 77 into a 73. Nothing to shout about."

Matsuyama, decked out in a white shirt with red trim that included the Rising Sun on his shirt sleeves and visor, earned a return trip to the Masters by winning the Asian Amateur Championship for the second consecutive year. He managed birdies at Nos. 1, 9 and 17 that were offset somewhat by bogeys at the third and 18th. His birdie at the 17th was no more than 3 feet and helped him to a tie for 10th entering today’s second round.

He will turn pro once he graduates from Tohoku Fukushi University in the next year or two. Right now, he just wants to make the cut and play on the weekend.

"Because I knew what it was going to be like this year, my spirit was high," Matsuyama said. "I was not surprised (that I played well)."

And after watching him for 4 hours or so, neither was Watson.

Paul Arnett is sports editor at the Star-Advertiser. Reach him at parnett@staradvertiser.com.