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Red-hot Hideki Matsuyama holes 19 birdies in two rounds at World Golf Championships

By The Sports Xchange
Hideki Matsuyama is on fire at the World Golf Championships. Photo by John Angelillo/UPI
Hideki Matsuyama is on fire at the World Golf Championships. Photo by John Angelillo/UPI | License Photo

Hideki Matsuyama of Japan carded nine birdies en route to a 7-under 65 and a three-shot lead going into the weekend at the World Golf Championships-HSBC Champions in Shanghai.

The two-time PGA Tour winner has made 19 birdies in the opening two rounds for a 13-under 131 at Sheshan International Golf Course for his first 36-hole lead on Tour.

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Matsuyama, who finished a career-best 13th in the FedExCup last season, won the Japan Open on the Japan Golf Tour two weeks ago before finishing runner-up to Justin Thomas at last week's CIMB Classic in his 2016-2017 PGA Tour season debut. The Japan Open was Matsuyama's sixth international win.

Matsuyama led by three shots over defending champion Russell Knox (68) and Bill Haas (67).

After raining the previous two days, the wind dropped the temperatures into the 50s on Friday.

"I thought maybe just a couple under par would be a good score," Matsuyama said. "So I'm really happy with how it ended up today. It was windy and cold. The ball, it's hard to control. It was tough out there today.

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"I haven't really played well here before. So before coming here, I was a little bit nervous again thinking, 'Well, maybe it's not going to be a good week for me.' But then I decided, 'Let's just have fun this week.' It's made a difference."

With his runner-up finish at the CIMB Classic last week, the 24-year-old Matsuyama moved to No. 10 in the world, marking the first time in his career that he has cracked the top 10. He is looking to become the first Japanese player and first player from Asia to win a World Golf Championships event. His runner-up finish last week pushed his PGA Tour earnings for the year to over $4.6 million.

Knox, a two-time PGA Tour winner, has been impressed with Matsuyama's play.

"Nineteen birdies ... that's really, really strong," Knox said of the leader.

Rory McIlroy, who was six shots behind after a 66, said of Matsuyama: "He is playing very well. And he'll be tough to catch."

Adam Scott had a pair of double bogeys on the par-5s on his way to an 80. Kevin Kisner, a runner-up at the HSBC Champions last year, made a 9 on the final hole for an 80.

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