U.S. tour regular Hideki Matsuyama gave his fans something to cheer about on Sunday with 10 birdies, but still finished the Fukushima Open six strokes off the pace.
On a day with low scores to be had, Matsuyama bogeyed two of his first three holes but birdied 10 of his last 15 for an 8-under-par 64 that left him tied for ninth at 18-under-par 270. Thailand's Prayad Marksaeng was even better, however, finishing with nine birdies in a bogey-free round to finish at 264.
"I don't recall having 10 birdies in a round," said the 23-year-old Matsuyama who appeared out of sorts since arriving back in Japan following the British Open's delayed Monday finish. "Compared to the previous three days, this was the easiest.
"This is a course with a birdie available on every hole, and I think that's how it played," said Matsuyama, a graduate of Sendai's Tohoku Fukushi University, who made a special effort to play in Tohoku's lone tournament.
