Hideki Matsuyama surges to Masters lead, but Marc Leishman remains right on his tail

Australia World

Hideki Matsuyama sits primed to become a national hero after an incredible post rain delay blitz set up a commanding third round lead at the Masters.

Matsuyama sent Japanese golf fans into raptures with a blistering bogey-free 7-under 65 to move to 11-under 205 as he attempts to become the first men’s major championship winner from his country.

The 29-year-old, who made his debut at the Masters as a teenager a decade ago, gained six shots in seven holes after a thunderstorm delay, turning the tournament on its head.

Having been to Butler Cabin in 2011 to collect the low amateur medal, Matsuyama is now primed to return there on Sunday to collect a green jacket.

Birdies at 11, 12, 16 and 17 plus a brilliant eagle at 15 set up a four-shot buffer.

Australian Marc Leishman is part of a four-way tie at 7-under along with England’s overnight leader Justin Rose and American duo Xander Schauffele and Will Zalatoris.

Leishman pulled within one shot of the lead on Saturday with an early birdie.

But he then bogeyed the seventh just before play was halted as a storm ripped through the area.

Birdies on the 13th and 15th got him back on track in a solid round of 70.

Marc Leishman looks up and raises his hand in thanks to the crowdMarc Leishman looks up and raises his hand in thanks to the crowd
Marc Leishman remains strongly in contention going into the last round.(

AP: David J Phillip

)

“The pressure is on Hideki tomorrow,” Leishman said.

“He has a lot of people chasing him who want to put that jacket on as much as he does, and I have the chance to apply more pressure to him if I can get off to a good start.

“If I can produce some roars around here and give him something to think about — four shots isn’t much around this place.

“I love chasing. I said it to my son Harvey the other day when he fell behind in a junior tournament, ‘us Leishman’s are up for the fight. We love coming from behind’.”

Rose, who led after both early rounds, was brilliant out of the blocks again but had to battle hard on the back nine for a second successive even-par 72.

Schauffele did his best to stay with playing partner Matsuyama with a 68, while Zalatoris is hoping to be the first Masters rookie to win since Fuzzy Zoeller in 1979.

Hideki Matsuyama looks up after completing a shotHideki Matsuyama looks up after completing a shot
After the rain delay, Matsuyama turned up the heat to seize the lead.(

AP: David J Phillip

)

Corey Conners aced the sixth hole in spectacular fashion on the way to a 68 to be sixth at 6-under, a shot better off than Jordan Spieth (72).

It was rough going for 2020 runner-up Cameron Smith, who harboured thoughts of a run up the leaderboard with a birdie on the third before four bogeys soon after skittled his hopes.

A couple of face-saving birdies late in his round for a 73 left him 1-under for the tournament.

Matt Jones (74) is 1-over while Adam Scott, the 2013 champion, had a day to forget with a 7-over 79, leaving him at 10 over.

Look back at how the action unfolded.

Key events

Live updates

By Dean Bilton

Pinned

Leaderboard

  • Hideki Matsuyama -11 (65)
  • Justin Rose -7 (72)
  • Marc Leishman -7 (70)
  • Xander Schauffele -7 (68)
  • Will Zalatoris -7 (71)
  • Corey Conners -6 (68)
  • Jordan Spieth -5 (72)
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Yesterday at 11:56pmSaturday 10 April 2021 at 11:56pm

By Dean Bilton

So that’s that from Saturday at Augusta National

AP

And the day belonged to Japan’s Hideki Matsuyama.

All day, we saw players either striking the ball well and hitting greens but missing putts or vice-versa, but only one man put both together, especially through the back nine. Matsuyama’s streak after the rain delay was flat out unbelievable, taking him from middle of the back the runaway leader in what felt like the blink of an eye. Can he keep that up tomorrow? Who knows. His putting has been historically unreliable, but was bang on today. If he makes putts on Sunday, you’d have to think he can’t be headed.

Marc Leishman is right there among the chasing pack though, tied for second. His story was of missed opportunities today – not easy putts, but the 50/50 ones that have to fall for you to win majors. Today they didn’t drop, but perhaps they will tomorrow. He’s showing no signs of letting up.

Of the others, Justin Rose battled but is still in the thick of it. Will Zalatoris seemed to play better than his round of 71 indicated. Jordan Spieth was an ordeal, but if he’d dropped a couple of putts he could be in there too. Xander Schauffele made a quiet move, but will no doubt be making noise tomorrow.

It’s all set up for drama in the last round of the Masters. Just how we like it. Join me on the blog again tomorrow morning, bright an early, as this tournament comes to a thrilling conclusion. See you then.

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Yesterday at 11:43pmSaturday 10 April 2021 at 11:43pm

By Dean Bilton

Two big putts coming up on 18

Rose has left himself a really nasty one down the hill for par, while Zalatori has a very makeable look for birdie. These putts will shape the look of the leaderboard after Saturday and will also shape the look of the pairings for the final round tomorrow.

Rose does it again! How is he still -7? He shoots an even-par 72 today, thanks almost entirely to some unbelievable scrambling on the back nine. He has made some BIG putts to keep himself in the running. Got to take your hat off to him.

And Zalatoris’s putt slips past. Bummer. He pars and completes the group tied for second at -7. That’s a 71 for him today.

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Yesterday at 11:42pmSaturday 10 April 2021 at 11:42pm

By Dean Bilton

Played, Marc

AP

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Yesterday at 11:40pmSaturday 10 April 2021 at 11:40pm

By Dean Bilton

Rose from deep in the trees on 18

He gets it out, but pins it at the patrons at the back left of the green. Once again, he’s doing the up-and-down-for-par dance. Which, as I have said already, is better than the other dance he has been doing.

Zalatori, on the other hand, has a great look at birdie thanks to a fantastic approach. Just past the pin.

The last group make their way up the 18th fairway on Saturday at the Masters.

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Yesterday at 11:38pmSaturday 10 April 2021 at 11:38pm

By Dean Bilton

What’s with the coverage Leishman currently running 2nd in the Masters yet hardly sighted in the TV coverage

-Chappy

On the plus side, we’ve seen lots of Justin Rose practice swings. So that’s something.

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Yesterday at 11:36pmSaturday 10 April 2021 at 11:36pm

By Dean Bilton

Come on Leish. For birdie…

This would give him a real good chance of being in the final group tomorrow. About six metres to make it…

Nope. He settles for par and cards a 2-under 70 for his round, still at -7 overall. He’s right in this, but the putts will need to fall tomorrow. He left a few out there today.

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Yesterday at 11:33pmSaturday 10 April 2021 at 11:33pm

By Dean Bilton

But Leishman recovers!

That’s so, so good out of that fairway bunker. He managed to find the green and stick it on that top ledge, giving him a decent birdie look. One of the tougher chances he’s had over the last few holes, but now would be a time to make it.

Rose has also just rescued another par. Real fighting spirit from the Englishman today, though he should hopefully be docked a couple shots for that little hip spin celebration disgrace.

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Yesterday at 11:31pmSaturday 10 April 2021 at 11:31pm

By Dean Bilton

Frustration for Leish

AP

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Yesterday at 11:28pmSaturday 10 April 2021 at 11:28pm

By Dean Bilton

Spieth lips out for birdie on 18

So it’s an even par 72 for Jordan Spieth, and he remains at -5. Not out of it, but not really in it right now either. What a weird round that was for him.

Oh, and Leishman just dunked one into the bunker off the tee on 18. Not good.

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Yesterday at 11:22pmSaturday 10 April 2021 at 11:22pm

By Dean Bilton

Leishman for birdie at 17…

Missed. By an inch. So close.

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Yesterday at 11:20pmSaturday 10 April 2021 at 11:20pm

By Dean Bilton

Bogey for Rose

Third time unlucky. His bunker shot wasn’t bad, but the putt proved too tricky. Bogey for him, par for Zalatoris.

LEISH! Alert! Leishman has just played a fantastic approach on 17, and has a fantastic look at birdie. Almost a must-make.

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Yesterday at 11:15pmSaturday 10 April 2021 at 11:15pm

By Dean Bilton

More dramas for Rose

Into the front bunker on 16. For anyone else, you’d say that’s big trouble, but on this scrambling run he’s on you imagine he’ll somehow get away with it.

Zalatoris, on the other hand, has a really good look at birdie.

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Yesterday at 11:13pmSaturday 10 April 2021 at 11:13pm

By Dean Bilton

Comfy par from here

AP

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Yesterday at 11:10pmSaturday 10 April 2021 at 11:10pm

By Dean Bilton

Leishman’s birdie putt slides past

Bah. The big ones just won’t fall for him. Perhaps he is saving them all for tomorrow.

Zalatoris just missed out on a good eagle chance on 15, but he’ll close out a birdie. He’s moving too.

And Rose saves the par. Two in a row. He won’t go away.

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Yesterday at 11:08pmSaturday 10 April 2021 at 11:08pm

By Dean Bilton

Rose has done it again

He’s scrambling big time at the moment, but he’s doing it so well. Another wonderful chip from nowhere to give himself a good chance of saving an unlikely par.

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Yesterday at 11:05pmSaturday 10 April 2021 at 11:05pm

By Dean Bilton

Speaking of Justin Rose

After having to lay up on 15, he’s sent his third shot into oblivion over the back of the green, nearly into the creek at the back. Once again, he’ll do very well to save par.

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Yesterday at 11:04pmSaturday 10 April 2021 at 11:04pm

By Dean Bilton

No to this

Don’t do that, Justin.

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Yesterday at 11:03pmSaturday 10 April 2021 at 11:03pm

By Dean Bilton

No eagle for Leishman, but birdie on 15

Inches short of what would have been a massive three on the par-5 15th. Still, he slides up the leaderboard and strolls over to the 16th…

Where he puts himself right within birdie range. Tricky, but a chance. Needs to make it.

Oh, and Spieth just three-putted on 16 for bogey. He has been just exhausting to watch today.

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Yesterday at 11:00pmSaturday 10 April 2021 at 11:00pm

By Dean Bilton

Key Event

Hideki Matsuyama closes out a round of 65 and leads the Masters

A bogey free round from Matsuyama, the first of the week by anyone. He’s in at -11 after just the most scintilating back nine. After that rain delay, he was a man possessed.

Xander Schauffele makes his par putt too to go in at -7

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