New York, United States: Hideki Matsuyama will call on experiences gained from past US Open near-misses in his bid to create history by becoming the first Japanese to win a men’s Major championship.
The 28-year-old heads into the final round of the 120th US Open at Winged Foot Golf Club in a share of fourth place on even-par 210.
Matsuyama, a two-time winner of the Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship, is five shots off the pace being set by Matthew Wolff, three behind second-placed Bryson DeChambeau and one adrift of Louis Oosthuizen.
Making his eighth appearance in the tournament, Matsuyama has twice before contended in the US Open. In 2013 at Merion Golf Club he tied for 10th. In 2017 at Erin Hills he shared second place after firing a final-round 66.
“I know how difficult the US Open is,” said Matsuyama. “You just have to get out there and grind. With the experience that I have, I'll just have to use that and grind as hard as I can.”
In a topsy-turvy third round, Matsuyama snared six birdies which were offset by four bogeys and a double-bogey six at 17 after getting himself out of position.
Reflecting on his even-par 70, he said: “I made a lot of birdies, more than I did the first two days. Hopefully tomorrow I can make the same number of birdies without the bogeys.
“I hit some good putts today, but at the same time I hit some bad ones. The greens were really difficult to read and to putt on. Tomorrow I just pray that I have more ‘makes’.”
History will also be made if 21-year-old Wolff, the Southern Californian with an unorthodox swing, emerges triumphant.
Just 16 months removed from toting books at Oklahoma State University, Wolff carded a 65 to put himself in position to accomplish something that hasn’t happened in 107 years – winning the US Open on his debut in the tournament and emulating the feat of a 20-year-old amateur upstart named Francis Ouimet in 1913.
Wolff, competing in his second Major championship, is the youngest to lead after 54 holes in a US Open since amateur Jim Simons in 1971 at Merion (who finished tied for fifth).
He said: “I feel like I'm ready to win out here and win a Major. I've already won a PGA Tour event (2019 3M Open) and I knew my game was in a really good spot. I've been feeling really good, really confident, and with my mindset right now how I'm thinking about the game is really good.”
