Hideki Matsuyama shot a sublime seven under par 65 on Saturday to take a commanding four-shot lead into the final day of The Masters as he aims to become the first Japanese man to win a Major Championship.
The 29-year-old’s 65 was the first bogey-free round at Augusta National this week as he carded five birdies and one eagle to reach top spot on 11 under.
Matsuyama made a steady start with six successive pars before a birdie at the seventh kick-started his purple patch.
The World No.25 picked up two more shots on 11 and 12 to move into a share of the lead with Justin Rose after the Englishman had dropped successive shots on four and five.
Will Zalatoris, playing in the final pairing alongside Rose, joined the leaders after he birdied the 10th before Xander Schauffele made it four players in a share of the lead with an eagle at the par-five 15th, only for Rose to regain the lead with a birdie at 12 to move to 8 under.
But Matsuyama carded an eagle of his own at the 15th to snatch the lead from Rose before extending his lead to two after picking up a birdie at the 16th following a superb tee shot to within four feet of the pin.
The advantage was stretched to three shots with a 10-foot birdie putt at 17, while an impressive up-and-down on the last saw him save par and set the clubhouse target at 11 under.
Rose, a two-time Masters runner-up, dropped back to seven under alongside Zalatoris, Schauffele and Marc Leishman when he bogeyed 16 before finishing with back-to-back pars to keep himself in the hunt.
“I did play well today,” Matsuyama said through an interpreter. “My game plan was carried out, and hopefully tomorrow I can continue good form. All I can do is prepare well, try my best and do the best that I can tomorrow.”
Rose leads European charge
Rose had made the perfect start to the third round with a birdie-birdie start but quickly gave them back to the course with successive bogeys on four and five before play was suspended for more than an hour because of a storm passing through Georgia.
After a fine birdie on the par 3 12th the Englisman failed to add further gains on either par-five on the back nine before dropping back to seven under with a bogey on 16.
But the 40 year old remains in contention after holing a 10-foot putt on the last.
“It was a tricky day, when the storm was approaching it was really windy,” said Rose. “When we came back out it felt there was a period of time to make a score, but then the greens slowed up a lot.
“There was definitely some tricky moments out there. I had to work hard and after 12 holes I thought I was in a nice spot. Hideki hit the jets and I hit the brakes a bit, that was the difference.
“A lot is to do with how Hideki plays, but there is a big chasing pack waiting. We are in a good spot.”
MacIntyre shines on debut
Robert MacIntyre set up a chance to become the first Scot in more than 20 years to secure a top ten finish at The Masters after carding a third round 70 at Augusta National.
The 24 year old traded six birdies and four bogeys to finish the day tied tenth as he aims to become the first Scot since Colin Montgomerie in 1998 to finish inside the top ten.
“Yeah, happy enough,” said MacIntyre on his day’s work, having signed for a two-under 70 for the second day running. “I made a crazy mistake on the par 5 13 but, other than that, I played solid stuff.”
“I was throwing birdie, bogey, birdie, bogey, but that’s the way I play golf. It’s been obvious the last kind of two years the way I play golf, it’s aggressive.
“No matter where I play or who I’m playing with, I’m going after things. The way my scorecard goes, it’s a roller coaster, and it’s the way I play golf so we enjoy golf. Overall, delighted with how it went.”
