Matsuyama soars into tie for the lead
Hideki Matsuyama carded a seven-under 66 to move into a share of the lead after Sunday’s third round of the US PGA Tournament of Champions.
The Japanese ace carded eight birdies in his round, which was the lowest of the day, to move into a tie of the lead on 17-under at the Kapalua Plantation course alongside Jimmy Walker.
Walker carded a 67 to maintain a share of the lead after he was part of a four-way tie at the half-way mark.
Two shots behind of the leading pair are Patrick Reed (68) and Bae Sang-Moon (69), while Brendon Todd and Russell Henley are another shot further back after rounds of 69 and 70 respectively.
Two-time Masters champion carded his best round of the week in Hawai’i so far when he notched a 68 to move into a tie for seventh on 12-under, alongside Robert Streb (71) and Scott Stallings (70).
Last year’s winner Zack Johnson, who was one of the four players tied for the lead after the second round, is alone on 11-under in 10th place after his even par 73 on Sunday.
Matsuyama qualified for the event after winning at Memorial last year and started the round with a bogey at the first, but birdies at five, seven, eight and nine saw him move up the leader board.
He then notched three consecutive birdies on the back nine before sinking a two-footer on the final hole to move into a share of the lead.
Walker, a three-time winner on the PGA Tour last year, at times led by as much as two shots at various times during the event.
Whilst he finished with a bogey to lose sole position of the lead, he did notch five birdies in the opening 10 holes.
The Tournament of Champions is the first tournament on the US PGA Tour of 2015, after the 2014/15 season started in December already.
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