Hideki Matsuyama fired a surprising nine-under-par ultimate spherical to emerge from the chasing pack and clinch victory on the Genesis Invitational on Sunday.
The Japanese golfer had begun the day mendacity tied for seventh and 6 pictures again on in a single day chief Patrick Cantlay however produced a flawless efficiency, which included 9 birdies, to develop into the primary participant in event historical past to card 62 or higher within the ultimate spherical at Riviera Nation Membership.
Former Masters champion Matsuyama’s spherical took him to 17-under-par for the event and noticed him end three pictures away from runner-ups Will Zalatoris and Luke Listing, whereas Cantlay suffered a nightmare Sunday after carding a 72 which dropped him right into a tie for fourth.
Together with changing into the primary Japanese participant to triumph at this venue, it marked the 31-year-old’s first event success because the Sony Open in Hawaii over two years in the past and he’s desirous to kick on forward of subsequent month’s The Gamers Championship and the return to Augusta Nationwide in April.
“This is my first top 10 since the last Players…so hopefully I can keep that momentum going,” Matsuyama stated.
“I think it’s really important for me to keep this momentum, especially going to Augusta, so hopefully I can keep that,”
Chasing a ninth event victory on the PGA Tour, Matsuyama, who carded 69 and a pair of 68s within the first three rounds, may hardly have requested for a greater begin to the day with birdies on the primary three holes adopted by making par on the remainder of the entrance 9.
He opened the again 9 with one other three birdies within the row, and closed out his spherical in precisely the identical method which vaulted him to the highest of the leaderboard.
Matsuyama nonetheless needed to look forward to the ultimate teams to finish their rounds earlier than he may rejoice, however it proved to be an unassailable lead as he lastly put a troublesome 2023 the place he was hampered by a again damage to relaxation.
“Ever since that injury, I was worried every week something bad might happen to my back,” Matsuyama stated. “But this week I had no issues, I played without any worries, so that really helped too.
“I wasn’t placing the ball rather well, however my chipping and placing was working quite a bit this week. That actually helped.”
Elsewhere, Tommy Fleetwood secured a top-10 end due to a ultimate spherical of 67 which noticed him end on eight-under for the event, whereas Rory McIlroy’s 70 noticed him end as a part of a gaggle of seven tied for twenty fourth.
McIlroy had endured a troublesome begin to the weekend at Riviera Nation Membership after opening with a three-over spherical of 74, however shot 66 and 69 in rounds two and three respectively and believes his sport just isn’t far off the place he desires it to be.
“I’m close,” McIlroy stated. “I’m not quite where I want to be, but it’s one of these courses where precision is so important and putting your ball in the right areas.
“When you’re simply barely off your weaknesses kind of get magnified this week.”
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