Majestic Matsuyama Closes on Major History

Augusta, Georgia, United States: Japan’s Hideki Matsuyama is just 18 holes away from creating golfing history.

The two-time former Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship winner fired a brilliant seven-under-par 65 at Augusta National on Saturday to open a four-stroke lead heading into the final round of the 85th Masters Tournament.

It’s the first time a Japanese golfer has held the lead at the end of any round of the Masters - and comes just a week after his compatriot Tsubasa Kajitani’s victory in the Augusta National Women’s Amateur. .

Now the challenge for 29-year-old Matsuyama is to go on and become the first Japanese male to win a Major championship and only the second Asian, after Korean YE Yang.

Three shots off the pace in joint sixth place overnight, Matsuyama produced a flawless, bogey-free performance to post a 54-hole aggregate of 11-under 205.

England’s Justin Rose, the half-way leader, Australian Marc Leishman and Americans Xander Schauffele and Will Zalatoris share second place on 209.

Aided by a hole-in-one at the sixth, Canadian Corey Conners shot a 68 to claim sole possession of sixth on 210 with former Masters champion Jordan Spieth of America a further stroke back in seventh.

After reeling off six straight pars, Matsuyama made birdie at seven and reached the turn in 35. He was still at one-under when play was halted due to bad weather while he was waiting to play his second shot to 11.

When he returned to the course some 75 minutes later, the five-time PGA Tour winner immediately found his range, striking a sensational low approach from the right rough onto the green and holing out for a birdie.

From that point he was simply inspired. He picked up another stroke at the short 12th and then produced one of the shots of the tournament at the 15th, a majestic five-iron approach that set up an eight-foot eagle opportunity which he gratefully accepted.

Further birdies at 16 and 17 saw him pull clear at the top of the leaderboard and a magical up-and-down for par from over the green at 18 meant he came home in six-under 30.

“Before the horn blew, I probably hit the worst shot I’ve hit this week (drive on 11). But after the restart, I hit practically every shot exactly how I wanted to. I just figured I couldn’t hit anything worse than that. And so maybe it relieved some pressure,” said Matsuyama, who played games on his cell phone in the car during the weather delay.

Matsuyama debuted at the Masters in 2011 as winner of the second edition of the Asia-Pacific Amateur. He returned to Augusta National in 2012 after successfully defending that title.

This is his 10th Masters appearance, with four previous top-15 finishes to his credit and a best of fifth place in 2015, one rung below compatriots Shingo Katayama (fourth in 2009) and Toshi Izawa (tied fourth in 2001).

Korean Im Sung-jae’s tied second here last November is the best finish by an Asian golfer at the Masters.

In tomorrow's final round, Matsuyama will play alongside Schauffele, who is also chasing his first Major win. The winner of the Masters has come out of the final pairing 25 out of the last 30 years.

“This will be a new experience for me, being a leader going into the final round in a Major. I guess all I can do is just relax as I can tonight, prepare well and do my best tomorrow,” said Matsuyama.