(Reuters) – Masters champion Hideki Matsuyama will take a one-stroke lead into the weekend on the Zozo Championship after capturing a two-under-par 68 within the second spherical on Friday to maneuver to the highest of the leaderboard.
The Japanese world quantity 19, cheered on by a restricted gallery of 5,000 of his compatriots, was strong quite than spectacular in chilly and moist circumstances on the Narashino Nation Membership in Chiba.
Second in a single day and beginning on the tenth gap, Matsuyama combined two birdies with a bogey on his entrance 9 and picked up one other shot on his method house to face a stroke away from American Cameron Tringale on eight-under.
“It wasn’t an ideal spherical, however I performed nicely. I am pleased with it,” Matsuyama informed reporters.
“I am in a great place. Wanting ahead to the weekend and (will) do my finest.”
Tringale’s 66 was the joint finest spherical of the day and stored him forward of fellow American Brendan Steele (68) and Britain’s Matt Wallace (69) in share of third on six-under.
“I am from California, I don’t play within the rain. When it rains, I keep inside,” mentioned Steele.
“My recreation does not normally translate that nicely to the climate … I used to be simply blissful to carry it collectively right this moment.”
Britain’s Tommy Fleetwood drained a birdie putt on the final for a 68 which drew him right into a share of fifth on five-under with Chilean Joaquin Niemann, who shot a 71.
World quantity three Collin Morikawa improved on his opening 71 with a 68 to lie seven pictures off the tempo, whereas Tokyo Olympic champion Xander Schauffele slumped to a four-over 74 after dropping 5 pictures on his first 5 holes.
Tiger Woods received the primary Zozo Championship for his 82nd profession title in Chiba in 2019, however the second version final yr was moved to California due to the journey restrictions attributable to the COVID-19 pandemic.
(Reporting by Nick Mulvenney, modifying by Shri Navaratnam)
