Marvellous Matsuyama leads after Augusta masterclass

Hideki Matsuyama carded a stunning bogey free 65 to open up a four shot lead after 54 holes as he goes in search of a first Major Championship at the 2021 Masters Tournament.

The Japanese entered the day at Augusta National three shots off the lead and was still nestled in the chasing pack when play was delayed due to the weather but he produced a remarkable run of scoring on the back nine after the resumption.

He made four birdies and an eagle to come home in 30 and get to 11 under, four clear of England's Justin Rose, Australian Marc Leishman and Americans Xander Schauffele and Will Zalatoris.

Matsuyama is the first Japanese player to ever hold an end of round lead at the Masters and victory on Sunday would make him Japan's first Major winner and just the second from Asia.

He already has two World Golf Championships to his name but his victory at the 2017 WGC-Bridgestone Invitational was his last win anywhere in the world.

His stunning effort on Saturday was the only bogey free round so far this week and came ten years to the day after he was crowned Low Amateur at Augusta National.

"Playing here for the first time after I won the first Asia-Pacific Amateur, it was a difficult time in Japan because the earthquake and tsunami had just hit and I wasn't sure if I would be able to come or not," he said.

"But I came and fortunately was able to finish Low Amateur and that experience, knowing I could play with other professionals really gave me a lot of confidence. I owe a deep debt of gratitude to the members of Augusta National because I wouldn't be here today without them. 

"I did play well today. My game plan was carried out and hopefully tomorrow I can continue good form. All I can do is prepare well, try my best and do the best that I can tomorrow."

Overnight leader Rose just missed a bunker off the first tee but took advantage by putting an approach to 12 feet and when he got up and down at the par five second, he was three ahead.

Playing partner Zalatoris almost drove the green at the par four third and got up and down to cut the gap to two and it stayed that way as both men dropped shots on the par three fourth after missing the green.

Rose found sand for the second hole in a row on the fifth and his lead was down to one when an hour and 18 minutes was lost due to inclement weather.

Straight after the resumption, Zalatoris failed to get up and down on the seventh to drop a shot but Rose soon had company at the top in the shape of Matsuyama.

The 29-year-old had birdied the seventh thanks to an approach to five feet and after the weather delay he holed a 19 footer on the 11th after sending his drive a long way right before putting his tee shot to ten feet at the 12th.

A brilliant second by Zalatoris at the par five eighth set up a two putt birdie from 24 feet and he holed a 23 footer on the tenth to make it a three way tie.

Rose had been disappointed to make a three putt par on the eighth but a remarkable bunker shot on the 11th helped him save par and he holed from nearly 30 feet on the next to get his nose back in front.

Matsuyama was relentless, however, and he put a beautiful second to six feet at the 15th for an eagle and then a tee shot to four feet at the next to get to double figures and lead by two.

A wonderful approach to ten feet at the 17th had him 11 under and he set the target with a stunning par save after going over the back at the last.

Rose dropped a shot on the 16th after finding sand off the tee but showed great scrambling skills to save par on the 14th, 15th, 17th and 18th in his 72.

Zalatoris dropped a shot on the 13th but regained it on the 15th to stay at seven under after a 71.

Schauffele was level par after seven holes but birdied the eighth and 13th before eagling the 15th in a 68.

Leishman made four birdies and two bogeys in a 70 to sit a shot ahead of Canadian Corey Conners, who aced the sixth en route to a 68.

Jordan Spieth was at five under, a shot clear of fellow American Brian Harman and two ahead of Tony Finau, with Robert MacIntyre, Bernd Wiesberger and Si Woo Kim at two under.