'2-stroke lead' Henry "Victory in sight after 5 years"... Kim Siwoo tied 39th

PGA Tour 'Hawaii 2nd Event' Sony Open Day 3 Matsuyama 2nd 'Chasing', Kuchar Tied 3rd

Russell Henley is preparing for a shot on the 17th hole on the third day of the Sony Open. Hawaii (USA) = Photo by Getty Images/Multivitz

[Asia Economy Golf Specialist Reporter Kim Hyun-jun] "Marching toward victory after 5 years."

Russell Henley (USA) has seized the momentum. On the 16th (Korean time) at the Waialae Golf Club in Honolulu, Hawaii (par 70, 7,044 yards), the third day of the second PGA Tour event of 2022, the Sony Open (total prize money $7.5 million), he maintained the top of the leaderboard with a 3-under-par round (18-under-par 192 strokes). 'Masters Champion' Hideki Matsuyama (Japan) is in second place (16-under-par 194 strokes), and Matt Kuchar (USA) along with three others are tied for third place (14-under-par 196 strokes).

Henley started with a 3-stroke lead and recorded five birdies and two bogeys. Although the bogey on the 4th hole (par 3) was disappointing, he made up for it with 'stepping stone birdies' on the 7th, 9th, and 11th holes, and a bogey on the 13th hole (par 4) was recovered with birdies on the 15th and 17th holes. Interestingly, he won his first PGA Tour title at this very tournament in January 2013. After securing his third career win at the Honda Classic in March 2014 and the Shell Houston Open in April 2017, he has been without a victory for five years, which has been frustrating.

Matsuyama is making a late charge with a daily best 7-under-par round. His impressive 'stingy putting' averaged 1.54 putts per hole, and the motivation was further boosted by the fact that a Japanese company is the title sponsor. Taylor Gooch (USA), the 'RSM Classic Champion,' stopped his pursuit of a second win tied for 11th place (11-under-par 199 strokes). Kim Si-woo (27) faltered with a 1-under-par round, tied for 39th place (7-under-par 203 strokes), and Lee Kyoung-hoon (31) remained tied for 49th place (6-under-par 204 strokes).

Matsuyama Hideki is examining the putting line on the 16th hole on the third day of the Sony Open. Hawaii (USA) = Getty Images / Multibits