Sony Open: Matsuyama chasing down Henley, as Li Haotong rues wayward finish to third round in Hawaii
- Chinese golfer in touch with the leaders until a double-bogey 6 on 16 left him in share for third
- Li among group four shots back, alongside Seamus Power, Matt Kucher and Adam Svensson
Hideki Matsuyama put himself in prime position to equal KJ Choi’s record of eight PGA Tour victories after a flying 7-under 63 propelled him into solo second behind Russell Henley at the Sony Open in Hawaii.
China’s Li Haotong, playing on a sponsor’s exemption this week, also remained in contention in the US$7.5 million tournament despite running up a costly double bogey six en route to a 68 and a share of third, four off the pace.
Henley, chasing a fourth Tour win and second title at the Sony Open, carded a 67 for a two-shot lead and an 18-under 192 total, which was a career low 54-hole score.
Much of Matsuyama’s success was down to his putter, and he needed only 25 putts over the course of the round. After picking up four birdies from inside of 10 feet, Matsuyama rolled in putts of 37 feet and two from about 13 feet on the 13th, 15th and 18th holes respectively to charge up the leader board.
“Probably putting was a strong point today,” he said. “Even my missed putts found the hole. I was lucky.”
The Masters champion’s 63 was his 12th consecutive round in the 60s, meaning he also set a career best 54-hole score of 194.
Despite the gap at the top, it is hardly a two-horse race at Waialae, a course with a history of players coming out of the pack to win.
