Matsuyama becomes Asia's most prolific PGA Tour winner
Former Masters champion Hideki Matsuyama fired nine birdies in a scintillating nine-under-par 62 on Sunday to rally from six shots back for a three-stroke victory in the Genesis Invitational at The Riviera Country Club. Tap-in birdies at the 15th and 16th saw the Japanese star break free atop a crowded leaderboard that saw five players tied for the lead on the back nine. He added a birdie at the par-five 17th – shooting six-under on the back nine and capping his round with a two-putt par at Riviera's iconic 18th. His 17-under 267 left him three strokes clear of Americans Luke List and Will Zalatoris, List carding a 68 and Zalatoris a 69 for 270. Matsuyama, who was one stroke shy of equalling the course record, had started the day tied for seventh but leapt into contention with birdies at the first three holes. He opened the back nine with another three-birdie burst, drilling a 10-foot putt at the 10th and firing out of the rough to one foot at the par-five 11th before rolling in a 46-footer at the 12th. His tap-in birdie at the 15th – where his 189-yard approach shot left him eight inches from the pin – put him among five players sharing the lead at 15-under, and another birdie putt of six inches at the par-three 16th saw him take the solo lead. He was in the fairway at the par-five 17th and after his second shot rolled through the green he chipped to three feet to pad his lead. Matsuyama will enjoy a sizeable boost to his world No. 55 ranking as well as a $4 million winner's prize from the $20 million purse on offer at the third of eight signature events on the US PGA Tour schedule this year. (AFP)