Xander Schauffele is the defending champion on the US PGA Tour’s Baycurrent Traditional in Japan this week. Photograph: AFP
TOKYO:
Double main winner Xander Schauffele moved 4 photographs off the lead in Japan after carding two eagles and a double bogey on “a bizarre day” on the US PGA Tour’s Baycurrent Traditional on Saturday.
Defending champion Schauffele heads into Sunday’s remaining day with a shot at retaining his title after carding a 6-under-par 65 to complete the third spherical 9-under general.
The American had a roller-coaster entrance 9 in sunny circumstances in Yokohama, beginning with a bogey earlier than holing two birdies and an eagle on the par-5 fourth.
Schauffele adopted that up with a double bogey on the subsequent gap earlier than sinking one other eagle on the par-5 sixth, and went on to card 4 extra birdies and one other bogey to complete the spherical.
“It was a bizarre day,” mentioned Schauffele, who received Olympic gold in Tokyo in 2021.
“It was quite a lot of good, actually some actually unhealthy in there as properly.
“However general, if somebody advised me I used to be going to shoot 65, I might most likely take it.”
Michael Brennan, Zach Bauchou and Jacob Bridgeman lead the sphere heading into the ultimate day on 13-under par.
Bridgeman is searching for his third win on the tour this yr.
The trio maintain a one-stroke lead over a chasing pack that features Australia’s Adam Scott.
Japan’s Hideki Matsuyama is eight photographs off the lead after a combined day when he shot a 2-under-par 69.
Matsuyama, the 2021 champion in Japan, began like a freight prepare, rattling in 4 birdies and an eagle on the primary seven holes.
He bumped into critical hassle on the again 9, although, carding 5 bogeys and just one extra birdie to undo a lot of his good work.
“It was a mixture of nice golf and the worst golf,” mentioned 2021 Masters champion Matsuyama.
“However it wasn’t that I performed completely terribly on the again 9.
“It was little issues, so I simply have to make some small changes to ensure that does not occur once more tomorrow.”
Three-time main winner Jordan Spieth was six photographs off the lead after taking pictures a 3-under-par 68 to complete 7-under general.
Spieth is searching for his first win on the tour since April 2022.
Collin Morikawa, the 2023 champion in Japan, was on 4-under general.