Hideki Matsuyama holds one-shot edge on Collin Morikawa at The Sentry

KAPALUA – There is no let-up and no room for missed chances at The Sentry.

Hideki Matsuyama is leading the charge, but he will be pursued by a host of contenders in the final round on Jan 5.

The Japanese shot an 11-under 62 on Jan 4 to maintain a one-shot lead after three rounds, in what turned into a shoot-out with Collin Morikawa at The Plantation Course in Kapalua, Hawaii.

Matsuyama, the second-round leader, could not shake off his American opponent, who also shot 62 in the PGA Tour’s season-opening event.

“Collin played well and I just kind of followed him, so (it was) a good day,” said the world No. 6. “It was a lot of fun, but I would like for him to take it easy (on Sunday).”

Do not count on it. And if either falters, there is a pack of golfers in position to catapult to the top. With the winds that so often buffet the Plantation Course again largely absent, five players posted rounds of 10 under or better.

Second-placed Morikawa said: “I’m going to put everything out there tomorrow because I have the goal to win.

“When you’re playing that well, everyone talks about being in the zone, but you really are just focused on every shot. Was nice to have to put a round together like that from start to finish.”

Matsuyama, who set the tournament record for lowest 54-hole score at 27-under 192 with his 11 birdies, and Morikawa were tied at the turn. The former had birdies on four of the last five holes.

Belgium’s Thomas Detry is in third place at 22 under after his 65. A 62 for South Korea’s Im Sung-jae moved him into fourth at 21 under. His round included an eagle on the par-five fifth hole.

England’s Harry Hall (66) holds fifth place at 20 under.

“The leaderboards are massive, they’re just there in your face so sometimes you just accidentally glance at them,” Detry said. “But I don’t really look at them, to be honest.

“I heard some of the guys behind me making lots of birdies, so I expected it to be really, really low again today.”

Matsuyama, who is closing in on his 20th professional win and his 11th on the PGA Tour, caught a break with his tee shot on No. 17. It bounced a couple of times on the cart path and he was able to locate the ball.

“I didn’t think it was going to be there, so I’m glad I went down and it was there,” he said.

Otherwise, it tended to be a situation with him and Morikawa matching shots.

“There has been rounds where guys are feeding off each other, group’s playing well you’re kind of going back and forth,” added Morikawa, who recorded an eagle on No. 5.

Max Greyserman made a big move by shooting 63 to move to 19 under for the tournament. He played a bogey-free round and is tied in sixth place with fellow Americans Will Zalatoris (65) and first-round leader Tom Hoge (68).

Cam Davis shot 64, yet lost ground on the leaders despite eagles on the fifth and the 14th. The Australian is at 18 under with five other golfers.

“I’ve just got to keep doing what I’m doing,” he said.

“Obviously, what I’m doing is working. It’s not too much different than I would want tomorrow, maybe a couple more birdies, but, we’re asking for a lot when you’re going past nine under. That’s some of the best golf I played in a while, and it will be fun to keep it going.”

World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler was not among the 60-strong field after hurting his hand in a Christmas Day cooking accident.
REUTERS, AFP