'Masters Champ' Matsuyama "Marching Toward Victory on Home Course"... Kim Si-woo Tied for 20th

PGA Tour 2021/2022 Season Round 5 Day 2 in Japan: Matsuyama Takes Lead, Tringale 1 Stroke Behind in 2nd Place

‘Masters Champ’ Hideki Matsuyama is putting on the 12th hole on the second day of the Zozo Championship. Japan=Getty Images/Multibits

[Asia Economy Kim Hyun-jun, Golf Specialist Reporter] ‘Masters Champion’ Matsuyama Hideki (Japan) is on the march for his first win of the new season.

On the 22nd, at the Accordia Golf Narashino Golf Club in Chiba Prefecture, Japan (par 70, 7,041 yards), during the second day of the PGA Tour 2021/2022 season’s 5th event, the Zozo Championship (total prize money $9.95 million), he added 2 under par to rise to a one-stroke lead (8 under par, 132 strokes). Established in 2019, this tournament crowned ‘Golf Emperor’ Tiger Woods (USA) as its inaugural champion. Last year, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, it was held in the United States, but this year it returned to Japan.

Moreover, Matsuyama is aiming for redemption after finishing second in 2019. Six months after becoming the first Asian player to win the prestigious Masters in April, he is challenging for his 7th career victory. On this day, he recorded three birdies and one bogey. Starting at the 10th hole (par 4), he opened his scoring with a birdie at the 13th hole (par 3), recovered from a bogey at the 17th hole (par 4) with a birdie at the 18th hole (par 5), and added another birdie at the 3rd hole (par 4) on the back nine. He expressed his determination, saying, "I will do my best until the end."

Cameron Tringale (USA) is in second place (7 under par, 133 strokes), Matt Wallace (England) and Brendan Steele (USA) are tied for third (6 under par, 134 strokes), Tommy Fleetwood (England) and Joaquin Niemann (Chile) are tied for fifth (5 under par, 135 strokes). South Korea’s Kim Si-woo (26) and Lee Kyoung-hoon (31) are tied for 20th place (1 under par, 139 strokes) along with world No. 3 Collin Morikawa (USA). Kang Sung-hoon (34) is tied for 53rd place (3 over par, 143 strokes). ‘Tokyo Olympics Gold Medalist’ Xander Schauffele (USA) finished tied for 58th place (4 over par, 144 strokes).