Matsuyama contending in home country

Tiger Woods is chasing a historic milestone. The home favorite isn’t far behind him.

Woods holds the solo lead at the ZOZO CHAMPIONSHIP after shooting 64-64 in the first two rounds. A victory would be his 82nd on the PGA TOUR, tying Sam Snead’s record.

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Japan’s Hideki Matsuyama is in third place, just four shots behind Woods. Matsuyama followed his first-round 65 with a 67 on Saturday. He leads the field in greens in regulation, missing just five in two rounds.

Matsuyama has won eight times on the Japan Tour, but this is the first official PGA TOUR event in his home country.

He started his round by making a 2 on the 10th hole, a par-4 that was shortened to 150 yards because of flooding in the fairway. He made two birdies and one bogey the rest of the way.

“I got off to a good start with a fine putt which got me into a good rhythm,” Matsuyama said. “The second half was a grind, but I didn’t play badly, so tomorrow I want to continue playing the way I have been playing.”

Matsuyama is coming off a third-place finish at last week’s THE CJ CUP @ NINE BRIDGES, his second third-place showing in his last five starts. He’s 23rd in this season’s FedExCup standings.