Hideki Matsuyama and Collin Morikawa were the best on a day of birdies on Saturday at Kapalua, each of them carding a 62 on the vulnerable Kapalua course, helpless in the face of the talent of the best in the world during a another day in the absence of wind.
Matsuyama had a chance to tie the course record by attempting a long putt for eagle on the 18th green. He made two putts for birdie to maintain the one-shot lead he had over Morikawa at the start of the day.
Morilkawa also shot a 62. He briefly took the lead on the first nine holes by paring five shots in five holes, including a 25-foot eagle putt on the fifth hole during a demonstration of sublime strokes.
Matsuyama caught him on the next hole and the two men remained close to each other until the end.
Matsuyama’s 11 birdies are the most he has made in a round on the PGA Tour. His score of minus-27, one shot ahead of Morikawa, represents a record on the Kapalua course after three rounds.
In the race after two rounds, Canadian Corey Conners had a modest day, posting a card of 69. He now finds himself tied for 9th place, nine shots behind leader Matsuyama. It slipped six positions compared to the day before.
Among the other Canadians, Taylor Pendrith (67) is 18th, at 203 (minus-16), while Adam Hadwin (68) is 21st, at 204 (minus-15). Nick Taylor (66) occupies 51st position, at 212 (minus-7).
There was virtually no wind west of Maui, and the Plantation course was built to handle high winds from any direction. The best player in the world therefore trained, in particular on a course whose fairways are the widest on the PGA Tour.
Au 3e rank, Thomas Detry finds himself behind at minus-22, one stroke ahead of Sungjae Im, who also had a card of 62.
The average score was 67.49, another record since this tournament moved to Kapalua in 1999.
