Never in the history of golf has a Japanese won a Major, let alone the Masters.
Never even a Japanese had been leader of the Masters before Hideki Matsuyama, this Saturday.
In 2020, the 25th World had flown over the first day of The Players before the event was stopped.
The Covid-19 had just stolen his dream.
A phenomenon of golfing precocity - he played the Masters at the age of seventeen as an amateur, managing to pass the cut - Hideki Matsuyama (29) is now aiming higher.
Before the last lap of this 85th edition, he is alone in the lead and is four steps ahead of his immediate competitors in the green jacket on Sunday ...
Hole-in-one and game interruption
The “Moving Day” on Saturday was launched an hour ago that the Canadian Canadian Corey Conners was already performing.
He signed with his 9 iron an ace on hole 6, a 184-yard par 3.
A real feat since holes-in-one are much rarer on this first par 3 of the first leg than on the 16, the last par 3 of the return leg.
A good operation for the 29-year-old North American, 20th in the 2020 Masters, who went to -5 in total, two strokes behind the leader Justin Rose (-7), who was setting off at the same time on the course.
Great start for Rose, leader since the first day, who struck from the start with two birdies under the first two holes!
Ace Alert
Just the sixth hole-in-one ever at 6 courtesy of @ coreconn # TheMasterspic.twitter.com / 2GfJ5yah5W
- The European Tour (@EuropeanTour) April 10, 2021
A few bogeys later, the main referee of the 85th Masters chose to sound the horn at 3:57 p.m. (9:57 p.m. in France) to call the players back to the clubhouse due to the threat of thunderstorms looming over the Augusta National. Golf Club.
Announced, the disturbances were approaching the route, pushed by gusts of wind stronger and stronger.
An hour and a quarter later, the game restarted.
And the Matsuyama show could begin ...
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Matsuyama alone in the lead
In Amen Corner, the Japanese joined Rose in the lead with two birdies in Amen Corner (holes 11 and 12) but missed the opportunity to take the lead alone on 13, where he putt for eagle… for finally sign by.
In full confidence, Matsuyama chose to attack the flag placed completely to the left on par 5 of 15. Another opportunity for eagle.
Determined, the smiling Hideki returned his putt from two meters and took the lead in the standings alone at -9 in total ... just ahead of Justin Rose (-8), at the same time birdie on the par 3 of 12 .
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It wasn't over yet.
On his cloud, he stuck his ball to the mast on the par 3 of 16, for an easy birdie and went down -10.
Better, Matsuyama was spinning at the start of the 18th after signing a new birdie at the 17th. Nothing seemed to be able to resist him.
Hideki Matsuyama was living a moment of grace.
Saving the par thanks to a magnificent chip-putt on the last green, he posted a very high-quality 65, composed of an eagle and five birdies, obviously devoid of any bogey.
Matsuyama is the only player in the field who didn't give up a shot on Saturday.
The 25th player in the world ends the Moving Day by being the only leader at -11, four strokes ahead of his pursuers.
pic.twitter.com/qb3n3kg6TK
- The Masters (@TheMasters) April 10, 2021
Spieth in ambush
If the last 35 Masters winners were in the top 5 after the “Moving Day”, will Will Zalatoris be the 4th player to win the Masters in his first participation, thus imitating Horton Smith (1934), Gene Sarazen (1935? ) and Fuzzy Zoeller (1979)?
The Californian rookie (-7) is one of the four players to be able to consider a "remount" with the English Justin Rose, the Australian Marc Leishman and his compatriot Xander Sc Chaudele.
The Canadian Corey Conners (-6) but also Jordan Spieth (-5), darling of the American public, have the capacity to create the surprise if they manage to score low.
Winner of the Valero Texas Open last week on the PGA tour, Jordan Spieth is well and truly in ambush.
The winner of the Masters in 2015 has already won in Augusta.
The statistic of 80% of the greens affected in regulation this week shows that he is in good shape.
With five strokes late, the Texan is still in the fight.
It will be more difficult for the Americans Brian Harman (-4) and Tony Finau (-3)…
The Masters ranking after three rounds:
1. Matsuyama (Jap.) -11
2. Sc Chaudele (USA) - 7
Leishman (Aust) -7
Zalatoris (USA) -7
Pink (Ang) -7
… Etc.
Discover the complete ranking with Figaro Golf.
