Matsuyama runs hot after delay
AUGUSTA, Georgia: Japan’s Hideki Matsuyama stormed home in style to put himself in position to become the first Asian player to win the Masters as he held a fourshot lead after the raininterrupted third round at Augusta National on Saturday.
Matsuyama, who began the day three shots behind overnight leader Justin Rose, played eight holes after a 78minute weather delay and went a sizzling 6under in that stretch for a 7under 65 that brought him to 11 under.
‘‘Before the horn blew I didn’t hit a very good drive, but after the horn blew for the restart I hit practically every shot exactly how I wanted to,’’ Matsuyama, whose last PGA Tour win came in 2017, said through an interpreter.
‘‘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 tonight, prepare well and just do my best tomorrow.’’
Rose (72), seeking his first Green Jacket after a pair of close calls, was in a fourway share of second place with
Xander Schauffele (68), Australian Marc Leishman (70) and Masters newcomer Will Zalatoris
(71).
World No 25 Matsuyama stormed through Amen Corner with a pair of birdies and then started to pull away from the field with an eagle at the par5 15th to take the outright lead following a magnificent approach.
Matsuyama then birdied the next two holes before capping the first bogeyfree round of the week with a par to set a target nobody could catch as he became the first player from Japan to lead after any round of the Masters.
It also marked Matsuyama’s best round in his 10 Masters appearances by one shot.
Rose, seeking his first Masters victory after a pair of runnerup finishes, had been in control all week and led by two shots moments after play resumed but was out of sync and unable to take advantage of rainsoftened conditions.
The 40yearold Englishman made a birdiebirdie start to build an early threeshot lead but then made consecutive bogeys from the parthree fourth before the inclement weather moved in while he was playing the seventh hole.
Rose returned and mixed one birdie with a bogey at the parthree 16th and then made a clutch 5.2m par save at the last hole, where he sent his drive into the pine straw right of the fairway before missing the green with his second shot.
‘‘I didn’t play well enough today, simple as that really,’’ Rose said.
‘‘I think all in all, to have a shot tomorrow, I’m delighted. Have that freedom to take a run at it, and of course I’d love to kind of stay with it just a little bit better.’’
Corey Conners used an eight iron to make a holeinone at the 180yard, parthree sixth hole that helped put the Canadian in contention heading into the final round, where he will start five shots behind Matsuyama.
Former champion Jordan Spieth (72), who came into the week among the favourites after snapping a nearly fouryear victory drought, was six shots back after a round that included four birdies, two bogeys and a doublebogey.
Schauffele, who drained a 18.6m eagle putt at the parfive 15th that gave him a brief share of the lead until playing competitor Matsuyama made his eagle, will be in the final group for today’s final round. — Reuters