Hideki Matsuyama is embracing the new experience of leading a major as the Japanese golfer stands on the brink of history following a red-hot performance at The Masters.
Matsuyama seized control of the tournament at Augusta, where the five-time PGA Tour champion earned a four-stroke lead thanks to his flawless third-round 65 on Saturday.
After inclement weather halted proceedings, Matsuyama – chasing his maiden major title – jumped out of the blocks and gained six shots in seven holes to blitz the field in Georgia.
Matsuyama heads into Sunday's final round as the player to beat at 11 under through 54 holes, ahead of Xander Schauffele, March Leishman, Justin rose and Will Zalatoris, while looking to become the first Japanese man to win a major event.
"This will be a new experience for me, being a leader going into the final round in a major," said Matsuyama, who was one under before the weather delay.
"All I can do is just relax as I can tonight, prepare well and just do my best tomorrow."
Matsuyama – making his 87th start since his last victory at the 2017 WGC-FedEx St Jude Invitational – posted the first bogey-free round this week and his best score in 37 rounds at The Masters.
The 29-year-old, who birdied the seventh hole on a bogey-free front nine, was red hot following the turn, birdieing the 11th and 12th.
Unstoppable, Matsuyama eagled the 15th before following that up with back-to-back birdies at the 16th and 17th as he soared to 11 under through 54 holes.
"During the rain delay, or right before the rain delay, I probably hit the worst shot I've hit this week," he said. "And during the rain delay, I just figured, I can't hit anything worse than that. And so maybe it relieved some pressure."
"Before the horn blew, I didn't hit a very good drive, but after the horn blew for the restart, I hit practically every shot exactly how I wanted to," continued Matsuyama.
Matsuyama was off the pace at the start of the day but turned the tables to soar to the summit.
Asked what he would have thought had he been told he would end the day four strokes lead, Matsuyama added: "Maybe I wouldn't have believed it, but I did play well today.
"And my game plan was carried out, and hopefully tomorrow I can continue good form."
Matsuyama has been paired with 2019 Masters runner-up and former PGA Tour Rookie of the Year Schauffele in the final round.
Of the last 30 Masters champions, 25 have come from the last pairing.
Young delighted to 'feel like himself' after Hero World Challenge opening round
Cameron Young holds a two-shot lead after the first round of the Hero World Challenge, which is being hosted by Tiger Woods in the Bahamas.
The 27-year-old shot eight under par with no bogeys on Thursday, which gave him a lead over Justin Thomas, who birdied four of the last five holes.
Young is number 38 in the world rankings and was named the 2022 PGA Tour Rookie of the Year, but has not yet won a PGA title.
The American was understandably pleased with his start to the tournament.
"It's a nice thing to come out and just feel like yourself," he said.
"Really happy with it. I feel like with the driver I was just really comfortable and that's a huge key out here.
"I'm sure I missed a fairway or two, but for the most part I was really well in position. Then I made a couple putts early, which was nice."
Elsewhere, defending champion and world number one Scottie Scheffler is on five under through the first round, three shots back on Young.
Scheffler is tied with Ludvig Aberg, Sahith Theegala, Patrick Cantlay and Akshay Bhatia.
Woods, who is the host and a 15-time major winner, was forced to miss the tournament having been originally expected to take an exemption spot – the tournament itself features 20 of the world's top players.
While there was no official reason given for Woods' absence, a lengthy injury history has ensured a limited competition schedule in recent years.
Dealing with 'unfair expectations' just 'part of the gig' for McIlroy
Rory McIlroy knows dealing with "unfair expectations" comes with the territory as one of golf's star names.
The four-time major winner was close to ending his long wait for a fifth such title at the U.S. Open earlier this year, but suffered a heartbreaking near-miss.
Bryson DeChambeau capitalised on McIlroy's wobble, and the Northern Irishman has now not won a major for a decade, with his last triumph arriving at the 2014 PGA Championship.
McIlroy had previously won the 2011 U.S. Open, the PGA Championship in 2023 and The Open two years later.
"I'm hard on myself, but at the same time, I try very hard to focus on the positives and move forward," McIlroy told Sky Sports.
"I learn from my mistakes and then move on, because that's all you can do in any walk of life.
"I think what the hard thing is in my position is your disappointments and your mistakes keep getting brought up to you every time that you get in front of a camera or you're in a press conference or answering questions. That's the tough part of this gig.
"At the same time, I am in a very fortunate position that this is what I get to do for a living. If I have to deal with what people deem are unfair expectations or are held to a higher standard than others, then so be it.
"I'd much rather have it this way than if people didn't really care about what I was doing on the golf course."
The 35-year-old has been nominated for the 2024 PGA Tour Player of the Year award and won his sixth Race to Dubai last month.
But McIlroy knows his slip-up at the U.S. Open is what will stand out from his campaign.
He had a comfortable lead at eight-under, but three bogeys allowed DeChambeau to win by a single shot. McIlroy took time away from the sport in the wake of the tournament.
"It's hard because, on one hand, I sit here, and I'm proud of what I've done this year, but then, on the other hand, I sit here, and I am disappointed because of the ones I've let get away," McIlroy said.
"I'd say it was a combination of everything. I wouldn't say it's specifically the putts. I wouldn't say it's specifically the club choices - I think it's a combination.
"The putt on 16 was probably the one that I'll look back on most that I'll regret. But I think if I had made par on 15, do I miss that putt on 16? Also, with the last few holes and with the way Pinehurst flows, I was waiting for Bryson to hit his shots.
"You're very aware of what's happening behind you and I needed to do a better job of trying to block that out and I didn't. It's hard enough just having to concentrate on yourself and focus on what you're doing.
"Whenever your attention is taken away by focusing and looking at what your competitor does, it makes it even more difficult," he added.
Lazio 3-1 Napoli: Noslin hat-trick fires Biancocelesti into Coppa Italia quarter-finals
Tijjani Noslin's hat-trick booked Lazio's place in the Coppa Italia quarter-finals following a 3-1 victory over Napoli.
The Dutch forward's first treble of his career proved decisive at Stadio Olimpico, where Giovanni Simeone's strike proved nothing more than a consolation for the visitors.
Lazio were awarded a penalty in the 20th minute after Elia Caprile brought down Pedro, but the Napoli goalkeeper redeemed himself with a smart save to deny Mattia Zaccagni from 12 yards.
Nevertheless, the hosts broke through in the 32nd minute. Samuel Gigot headed Loum Tchaouna's deep centre back across goal for Noslin to nod home.
Simeone brought Napoli level four minutes later, tucking away a rebound after Christos Mandas could only parry David Neres' initial effort.
However, Noslin put Lazio back in front within five minutes after Pedro cushioned a cross neatly into his path, before completing his hat-trick early in the second half when heading home Zaccagni's centre.
Data Debrief: Another last-16 exit for Partenopei
Lazio are through to the Coppa Italia quarter-finals for a 14th consecutive season, after Noslin stole the show in Rome.
The Dutchman had never previously in his career scored two goals in the same match, let alone three.
Meanwhile, Napoli have now won just one of their last six away games in the Coppa Italia, and have exited the tournament at this stage in each of the last four seasons.
SportsMax is the Caribbean sports channel of choice, committed to providing sporting content of the highest quality to the Caribbean, delivered by a team of highly innovative, passionate and qualified professionals.
(876) 619-7629
digitalmedia@sportsmax.tv
