Top-ranked amateur Keita Nakajima books Masters ticket with AAC playoff win

Japan's Keita Nakajima earned an invitation to play alongside his idol and defending Masters champion Hideki Matsuyama after he won the Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship on Saturday in Dubai.

Nakajima defeated Hong Kong's Taichi Kho on the second playoff to book his ticket to Augusta.

An emotional Nakajima then emulated Matsuyama's caddie at the Masters by bowing to the 18th green in respect after his victory.

The win also clinched the 21-year-old a spot the 2022 Open Championship to go with the exempion into the US Open he earned by finishing the year as the world's top-ranked amateur player.

Nakajima made parand Kho each finished at -14 to force the playoff.

Jin Bo of China and Cho Woo-young ended in a tie for third at -13.