MATSUYAMA CLOSES IN AT AUGUSTA
MATSUYAMA STAYS CLEAR OF CHASING PACK IN RACE FOR FIRST MASTERS TITLE
HIDEKI MATSUYAMA reached the turn five shots clear at the top of the leaderboard as he chased his first major, with the Masters heading for a historic outcome last night.
This tournament is famously said to never really start until the back nine on Sunday. But even given the event’s propensity for incredible drama, the chasing pack – including Britain’s Justin Rose – was needing something inspired to claim victory.
Matsuyama, who started yesterday four shots clear of the field, began in the worst possible fashion, pushing his tee shot into the trees at the first and ending with a bogey.
With American Will Zalatoris posting birdies on his first two holes, the lead was then down to just one shot.
But Matsuyama soon steadied the ship, making a birdie on the long second and holding his nerve with pars on the third and fourth. Rookie Zalatoris dropped a shot on the third to slip back to eight under. And two of the other main challengers, Marc Leishman and Xander Schauffele, both fell away with dropped shots.
A birdie at the ninth – moments after Zalatoris bogeyed the tenth – meant Matsuyama, aiming to become the first Japanese player to win a men’s major, was 13 under, suddenly five ahead of Zalatoris.
Rose, who started the tournament in such spectacular fashion with a firstday 65, dropped three shots in his first five holes. But a birdie on seven moved him to six under.
Jordan Spieth, who has returned to his best in thrilling fashion lately, needed an inspired final day. But instead he dropped three shots in his first six holes to fall out of the hunt at three under.
However, Jon Rahm was enjoying a very fine Sunday, moving from level par to six under, posting the clubhouse lead with an eagle on the second and five birdies.
Scot Robert MacIntyre, who has been so impressive at his first Masters, started at one under, but a double bogey at the sixth cost him dear and he slipped back to one over.
England’s Tyrrell Hatton finished in fine style, a 68 taking him to one under for the week.
Four successive birdies from the 13th helped Paul Casey to a final round of 69, one over for the tournament, alongside of Europe’s Ryder Cup stars, Ian Poulter, who carded a 70.
But for Bryson DeChambeau, there might well be another Augusta inquest, after he could only make a 75 on the final day, finishing on five over.