FORT WORTH: Japan’s Hideki Matsuyama fired a bogey-free six-under par 64 yesterday to grab a share of the lead after the third round of the $6.4m US PGA Colonial tournament.
The 22-year-old Asian star joined Americans David Toms, Chris Stroud and Chad Campbell on seven-under 203 after 54 holes.
Six others were only one stroke off the pace while another seven players were two strokes adrift, setting up a final-round shootout.
“I’m going to probably be nervous tomorrow,” Matsuyama said. “I’m going to have to shoot lower tomorrow. I’m going to do my best.”
Matsuyama won four times on the Japan Tour last year and has two top-five efforts in his first US PGA season, a share of third at the Frys.com Open last year and a share of fourth in February at Phoenix. In his past five starts, Matsuyama has struggled, missing two cuts, twice finishing outside the top 30 and withdrawing from the Honda Classic with a wrist injury.
“Gradually, week by week my game has gotten better,” Matsuyama said. “I feel like I can compete now -- especially to shoot six-under and be in contention.”
Matsuyama sank a 12-foot birdie putt at the second hole, added another from 15 feet at the par-3 fourth and dropped a 25-foot birdie putt at the fifth.
After a five-foot birdie putt at the par-5 11th, Matsuyama sank a 13-foot birdie putt at 14 and put his drive at the par-3 16th just five feet from the cup to set up his final birdie.
Stroud birdied the final hole to shoot 69 and join the lead pack while Campbell shot 68 while Toms, the 2001 PGA Championship winner, fired a 65.
Toms likes Colonial because as a formidable yet short course it provides a stern test for a variety of players.
“It evens all of us out, long hitters and short hitters.”
He further said:
“You bite off what you can chew out there,” Toms said.
Sitting on 204 were Australian Marc Leishman, South African Tim Clark and Americans Kevin Chappell, Chris Kirk, Jimmy Walker and Brian Harman after the round. .
Chappell fired a 63 after starting with six birdies and an eagle in the first 11 holes, including four birdies in a row to finish the front nine, but he closed with a bogey at 14 and six pars.
“I used up a lot of luck,” Chappell said.
“I had two chip-ins and made some long putts.”AFP
