Hideki Matsuyama appears to have things set on cruise control over in Shanghai.
Only defending champion Russell Knox is close to him but he’s still three shots back and that may seem a tall order considering that scoring got tougher on Saturday at Sheshan International Golf Club.
Matsuyama had a bogey-free day and his four birdies gave him a 68 and he sits atop the WGC’s HSBC Champions at 17-under par.
Knox, the defending champ, shot a 68 of his own and he’ll start the final round paired with the leader and he’ll have three shots to make up.
Young Daniel Berger’s 67 got him to 13-under par and he’s the low American player in the field. Bill Haas and Francesco Molinari were five back at 12-under par.
Matsuyama, who has worked his way into the world’s top 10, called his play “very satisfying” even though he didn’t put on the birdie show that carried him to the lead the first two days.
Rory McIlroy, experimenting with some new clubs, found himself tied for eighth at nine-under.
World’s No. 2 Dustin Johnson finally broke par with a 70 and was tied for 43rd while Patrick Reed recovered with the day’s best round, a six-under par 66 that got him to three-over par.
