San Francisco Chronicle - (Sunday)
Schauffele, again, right in major mix
AUGUSTA, Ga. — Xander Schauffele is in what has become familiar territory. He’s close to the top of the leaderboard in a major championship.
He’s hoping Sunday isn’t more of the same when it comes to finishes.
Schauffele shot 4underpar 68 on Saturday to get to 7under through three rounds of the Masters, leaving him four shots back of Hideki Matsuyama going into the final round.
Schauffele has had five topfive finishes in majors, including a tie for second — one shot behind winner Tiger Woods — at Augusta National in 2019.
And now comes another chance.
“I think I’m playing really good golf,” Schauffele, 27, said. “I was excited for today after yesterday, some of the iron shots I was able to hit. I’m excited for tomorrow as well.”
He’s had chances. Schauffele briefly was atop the leaderboard on the back nine at Augusta National in 2019, but failed to make birdie on the par5 15th and wound up losing to Woods by one. In 2018, he was tied for the lead going into the final round of the British Open, losing there by two shots to Francesco Molinari.
Schauffele also has four topsix finishes in the U.S. Open.
“It’s all part of the process,” Schauffele said. “I’m a huge fan of putting myself in position with nine holes to go and learning from each and every mistake, and also the things I did well in those moments. Looking forward to tomorrow.”
More on Matsuyama: Prior to Saturday, Matsuyama’s lone shot at a major was at Quail Hollow in the 2017 PGA Championship when he was one shot behind with three holes to play and missed a crucial par putt. He was in tears after that round.
Matsuyama wasn’t the first Japanese star of his generation — that was close friend Ryo Ishikawa — but he is by far the most accomplished. Matsuyama has 14 worldwide wins, five on the PGA Tour. He has reached No. 2 in the world.
He rarely can go anywhere on the PGA Tour without a dozen or more Japanese media following. Their numbers are limited this year because of COVID19 restrictions.
“Being in front of the media is still difficult. It’s not my favorite thing to do,” Matsuyama said through his interpreter. “It’s been a lot less stress for me. I’ve enjoyed this week.”
Only four players have squandered a lead of at least four strokes going to Sunday, with Rory McIlroy being the last to do it in 2011.
A Matsuyama win would give Japan a sweep at Augusta. Tsubasa Kajitani, 17, won the Augusta National Women’s Amateur on April 3.
Prize money: For the third consecutive year, the Masters champion will take home $2.07 million. A sole secondplace finish would be worth $1.242 million. Third prize, if claimed outright, would be worth $782,000; fourth, $552,000 and fifth, $460,000.