2021 Masters: Hideki Matsuyama Makes Huge Move Saturday

Saturday was moving day at the 2021 Masters. And no one made a bigger move than Hideki Matsuyama.

Matsuyama has not won on the PGA Tour since 2017 but on Saturday, he looked like an unstoppable force at Augusta National. His front nine was nothing particularly special, as he carded a birdie on the seventh hole to go with eight pars, resulting in a 1-under par 35. But the back nine was a different story.

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After a par on the 10th hole, Matsuyama hit his tee shot right on the tough 11th hole. But, from the pine straw, he hit a brilliant iron shot to about 15 feet, then made the downhill putt for birdie.

That birdie seemed to spark Matsuyama. He hit his tee shot on the par-3 12th hole to about eight feet, then ran in the putt for a second straight birdie. He was suddenly 3-under par on his round.

He would par the 13th and the 14th holes before getting on an absolute roll late in his round.

On the par-5 15th hole, Matsuyama hit his drive right down the middle and long. It set him up to go for the green in two, which he did, hitting his iron about six feet from the hole. He would make the birdie putt to go to 5-under on his round and into a tie for the lead.

Then on the par-3 16th hole, Matsuyama nearly holed his tee shot. It came to rest about five feet from the hole and he made another birdie, taking the outright lead in the process.

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But he wasn’t done. Matsuyama continued his torrid stretch on the 17th hole. After another perfect drive, he hit another stellar iron shot to about eight feet. He made yet another birdie putt, making him four under on his last three holes. He opened a three-shot lead in the process.

This is the Matsuyama that everyone has been waiting to see. Now, he needs to hold onto the lead on Sunday and claim his first major title. Doing that would put the critics to rest, at least for now.

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