By Rahul Banerji
In the autumn of 2016, Hideki Matsuyama held his nerve in teh heat and humidity of Albany in the Bahamas to win the Tiger Woods-hosted Hero World Challenge by two shots.
The Japanese star, then 24, came into Sunday with a substantial lead and then held off Henrik Stenson by two shots to walk away with the massive tiger trophy and winner’s cheque.
Fast forward to Saturday, and Matsuyama goes into the final day of the Masters Tournament in Augusta in a similar position, but under very different conditions.
Moving Day proved most profitable for the 29-year-old as he flattened the field with a 7-under round of 65 to open a four-shot gap over his chasers.
At times on Saturday, the Matsuyama of 2016 and 2021 resembled each other very closely.
At Albany, he was all concentration and focus, much as he was at Augusta National on Saturday in outing together the only week’s bogey-free round.
Not considered the best of putters, the Japan star still found his range time and again to recover or scramble pars on both occasions.
Holding on
Now, it remains to be seen if Matsuyama – winless on the PGA Tour since 2017 – can take the pressure of a far bigger field in Georgia and one which will most be doing its best to shut him down,
Still, Matsuyama is in line to break his winless streak as he returns to Augusta National in a few hours.
No Asian golfer has donned the green jacket that goes with the Masters championship and Matsuyama has given himself a valid chance.
On Saturday, he was almost Zen-like in his calm focus, especially on a back nine that included four birdies and an eagle to set up a 11-under 205 total.
In chase are Xander Schauffele (68), Marc Leishman (70), Justin Rose (72) and Will Zalatoris (71) all in second place on 209.
Corey Conners (68) sits a further shot back while Valero Texas Open winner Jordan Speith is seventh on 5-under 211.
According to pgatour.com, starting the day three off the pace, Korea’s Si Woo Kim had a 74 to drop to a share of 10th on 2-under.
Fortunate break
Matsuyama came out firing after a 75-minute weather suspension and made good use of the subsequent softer conditions.
He first sank a 19-footer for birdie on 11 following a great recovery shot, and had further birdies on 12, 16 and 17.
In between was eagle on the par-5 15th that resulted from a beautiful five iron approach to five feet.
He made a critical par save on 18 from the back of the green to post the tournament’s first bogey-free round and a career low score at Augusta National.
“Before the horn blew, I probably hit the worst shot I’ve hit this week (on 11), but after the restart, I hit practically every shot exactly how I wanted to,” Matsuyama said later.
“I just figured, I can’t hit anything worse than that. And so maybe it relieved some pressure.”
Ten years ago, Matsuyama was the best-placed amateur at the 2011 Masters and watched South Africa’s Charles Schwartzel slip on the green jacket.
He hopes it will be his turn on Sunday, which comes a week after 17-year-old compatriot, Tsubasa Kajitani won the Augusta National Women’s Amateur.
Matsuyama holds two top-10s and three other top-20s at the Masters and has missed only one cut in nine appearances.
Solid record
His 65 on Saturday was a 10th straight round of par or better at Augusta National and when asked what it would it mean for Japan if he won Sunday, he replied: “I’m not sure how to answer the question.
“All I can do is prepare well, try my best, and do the best that I can. I love playing here, and hopefully I can make it 11 (par or better) tomorrow.”
At the Masters, Matsuyama’s best is fifth place in 2015, one below compatriots Shingo Katayama (4th/2009) and Toshi Izawa (T4/2001).
Korea’s Sungjae Im’s tied second here last November is the best finish by an Asian golfer.
“I have a lot of great memories watching the Masters as a young boy. I was always dreaming someday I could play here,” said Matsuyama, who won the Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship twice to earn Masters invites in 2011 and 2012.
Two Japanese women golfers have won Majors – Hisako Higuchi (LPGA Championship, 1977) and Hinako Shibuno (British Open, 2019) – and Matsuyama will be keen to add his share to that history on Sunday.
Also read: Inspired Matsuyama is T2 as Rose stuns with opening Masters 65
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