Matsuyama warms to task on cold day

Home star Hideki Matsuyama ground his way into the lead in cold and wet conditions at the PGA Tour’s Zozo Championship in Japan yesterday on a day to forget for Tokyo Olympic champion Xander Schauffele.

Masters champion Matsuyama, playing in front of his fervent home fans at Accordia Golf Narashino Country Club outside Tokyo, carded a two-under-par 68 in the second round to move to eightunder 132.

Matsuyama, Japan’s only male major winner, had a one-stroke lead over American Cameron Tringale, who had a superb four-under 66 on a chilly, damp day that made the par-70 course play much longer than its 7,041 yards.

The thermometer hovered around 15 Celsius with rain steadily falling on the PGA Tour’s first tournament in Asia since the Covid-19 pandemic, resulting in only 30 of the elite 78-man field breaking par.

Matsuyama’s controlled display, with three birdies and a solitary bogey, delighted the thousands of spectators who turned out to follow their hero in miserable conditions.

“It wasn’t a perfect round, but I played well. I’m happy with it,” said Matsuyama.

“It’s not often that we play in rain and cold at the same time, but I’m happy with the round and it was a good day.”

Tringale, chasing a first PGA Tour win 12 years after turning pro, finished with a birdie to equal the low-round of the day with a 66.

“Left myself in the right positions on these greens and was able to make a few putts. That was the day,” said the 34-year-old.

Schauffele, back to the country where he won Olympic gold less than three months ago, soared to a 74.

Playing with Matsuyama, he began with a scruffy double bogey and slumped to three more bogeys in the next four holes. He heads into the weekend 12 shots off the lead.

Among the chasers, Matsuyama’s President’s Cup teammate Joaquin Niemann took time to get going.

The Chilean was three-over par for his round with four to play but managed to find two birdies for a 71 to give him a five-under-par total that keeps him firmly in the hunt for the US$1,791,000 winner’s cheque.

“It was freezing,” said the smiling South American, frantically rubbing his hands together to warm them. “I couldn’t feel my hands and I managed to have a good round so I’m happy.”

LEADING SECOND ROUND SCORES

(par-70)

132 — Hideki Matsuyama (JPN) 64-68

133 — Cameron Tringale (USA) 67-66

134 — Brendan Steele (USA) 66-68, Matt Wallace (ENG) 65-69

135 — Joaquin Niemann (CHI) 64-71, Tommy Fleetwood (ENG) 67-68