Matsuyama & Walker Move ahead in Tournament of Champions


Japan's Hideki Matsuyama and Texan Jimmy Walker carded rounds of 7-under 66 and 6-under 67, respectively, to break up a four-way tie for the lead in the Tournament of Champions and move to the top of the $5.7 million PGA Tour event.

Matsuyama posted eight birdies and a bogey at the par-73 Plantation Course at Kapalua in Maui, while Walker had six birdies in the winners-only tournament as they both reached 17-under 202.

Walker said playing the Coore-Crenshaw-designed Plantation course for the second year in a row has been beneficial. "Definitely more comfortable here this year than I was last," said the 36-year-old, a three-time winner last season. "It's a big golf course and it's a lot to look at, take in, that type thing, and getting comfortable reading the greens and with the grain, the uphill, downhill, the mountains and ocean, and it's tough."

Patrick Reed had a 68 to join South Korea's Sang-Moon Bae in third through 54 holes in the 34-player tournament, which will conclude Monday.

Reed, who qualified by winning last year's Humana Challenge, WGC-Cadillac Championship, said he's ready for the rare Monday finish. "It's Monday tomorrow, and I'm a pretty good Monday qualifier," joked the San Antonio native.

"I'm just going to take that same mentality going into it, and hopefully I can get going and go low and at least have something to look at."

Bae, who won the Frys.com Open in October for his second Tour title and had a 69 Sunday, knows that he's close to his third career victory. "Just one more day, because you know, I'm in position to win, but because, you know, 17 is leading," said the 28-year-old.

"I think I am doing good and I will play pretty good tomorrow, hopefully."

Three behind the co-leaders are Brendon Todd (69) and Russell Henley. Henley, the reigning Honda Classic who took the first-round lead after posting the low round of the tournament, a 65, carded a second straight 70.

Henley was disappointed with his play, at times. "Every time I got something going I kind of made a dumb mistake, didn't capitalize on a couple of good attempts from my good wedge shots on the back nine.

"So a couple of things, but overall I've been playing great. I just gotta score just a little bit better," the 25-year-old Georgia native said.

Reigning Masters' champion Bubba Watson (68), McGladrey Classic winner Robert Streb (71) and Farmers Insurance Open winner Scott Stallings (70) are tied for fifth at 205.

Defending champion Zach Johnson had a 73 and is in 10th at 208.

Henley, Johnson, Walker and Bae began Sunday tied for the lead at 11-under 135.

For all the scores, visit http://www.pgatour.com/leaderboard.html.