INZAI CITY: Tiger Woods is on the brink of making golf history.

The Masters champion held a three-stroke lead over local favorite Hideki Matsuyama after 11 holes in the fourth round of the Zozo Championship on Sunday.

Woods, who has led from the opening round of the PGA Tour’s first tournament in Japan, carded three birdies against a lone bogey when the fourth round was suspended due to darkness. Combined with the third round he played earlier, Woods played a total of 29 holes on Sunday.

Play will re-start at 7:30 a.m. local time on Monday.

“Today has been a long day in the saddle, so early wake-up call tomorrow and back at it again,” Woods said. “I’m gonna try to win, there is no doubt about that. I have a job to do tomorrow, start off from the 12th hole, it’s not one of the easiest of holes so right out of the gate I’ve got one of the hardest holes on the golf course.”

Woods is making his first start in his 23rd season on the PGA Tour. If he can hold onto his lead through the remaining seven holes on Monday, he will reach 82 wins and tie the career record held by Sam Snead.

Woods had arthroscopic surgery on his left knee two months ago his fifth on the same problem joint.

And he admitted that playing 29 on Sunday was a challenge, compared to the last time he played more than 18 holes when he used a cart.

“[It’s] a little bit different when you have to walk out here and squat up and down to read putts, all the little things that go into playing tournament golf.”

Japan’s number one Matsuyama had clung doggedly to the coat-tails of Woods throughout Sunday’s third and fourth rounds, delayed because of Friday’s washout at Accordia Golf Narashino Country Club.

After Woods had finished he still had time to induce one last mighty roar from the packed golf-crazy galleries hanging off every Matsuyama drive, chip and putt at the US PGA Tour’s inaugural tournament in Japan.

The world number 27’s snaking 25-foot birdie putt on the 12th green somehow found its way to the cup in the gloom and Matsuyama moved to 14-under par, three behind Woods with six to play.

“I am only thinking how to catch up and win the tournament,” said Matsuyama. “Let’s see what is going to happen in the last six holes tomorrow.”

Woods shot 66 in the third round on Sunday morning and had a three-shot lead over Matsuyama after 54 holes, which is where it remained as darkness fell.

Gary Woodland (68) was tied in third place at 12-under with Sungjae Im, while Rory McIlroy, the highest-ranked player in the field, was fifth at 11 under with just two holes to play.

Published in Dawn, October 28th, 2019