With only 18 holes to play at the WGC-HSBC Champions, what are the key storylines heading into Sunday?
Mandatory Credit: Butch Dill-USA TODAY Sports
With only 18 holes remaining in this year’s WGC-HSBC Champions, we’ve reached that time of the week where the stakes are raised and the nerves start to jangle.
With major championships only coming four times a year, WGC events give the world’s best players extra chances to test themselves against elite fields and act as a strong proving ground for those with major ambitions.
One such player who would seem like a logical choice to make that jump up in the majors very soon is Hideki Matsuyama.
Holding a three-shot lead heading into the final round, Sunday will prove a stern test of the Japanese youngster’s big tournament mettle.
If there are any signs of weakness from Matsuyama, the likes of Russell Knox, Daniel Berger and Rickie Fowler are all well positioned to capitalize.
What were the key takeaways from the third day’s play at Sheshan though? Let’s take a closer look.
Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports
Matsuyama Looking For Second October Win
Only two weeks after winning his national open, the Asian Tour’s Japan Open Golf Championship, by three strokes, world number 10 Hideki Matsuyama is primed for the biggest win of his career to date.
The 24-year-old’s two PGA Tour wins to date have come via a playoff, but with the way he looks in control of this event at present, he’ll be hoping to get the job done within regulation on this occasion.
Known as one of the purest ball-strikers on the planet, if Matsuyama can hit fairways and greens in regulation, it’s going to take a very special round to prevent the young phenom from taking his next big jump up the world rankings.
Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports
Knox Searching For 2015 Magic
Russell Knox has put up a valiant effort in defending his crown at this week’s WGC-HSBC Champions, but there’s still a great chance for him to make it another week to remember in Shanghai.
Knox closed out with a 68 to seal the deal at Sheshan 12 months ago, and if the putts don’t fall for Matsuyama there’s a chance a similar round could be enough to get it done in 2016.
Regardless, with his last seven rounds in this event falling in the 60s, Russell Knox will take some beating on Sunday. He’ll be there or thereabouts, and it’ll be up to the rest of those in contention to go better.
Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports
Miracle Needed For McIlroy
Although he’s played some good golf throughout the week as he continues to introduce new equipment to his bag, Rory McIlroy just hasn’t done enough to really figure in this tournament to date.
Outside of a 66 on Friday, McIlroy’s week is a story of missed opportunities, but if ever there was a man with the ability to turn it all around on Sunday it’s the Northern Irishman.
Starting the final round eight strokes off the lead, McIlroy will likely need some help from the leaders, as well as special 18 of his own. Danny Willett had a 62 to close this event last season, and my guess would be Rory will be looking to do something similar on Sunday.
Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports
WGC-HSBC Champions – Day 3 Leaderboard
1 – Hideki Matsuyama – 68 (-17)
2 – Russell Knox – 68 (-14)
3 – Daniel Berger – 67 (-13)
T4 – Francesco Molinari – 68 (-12)
T4 – Bill Haas – 70 (-12)
T6 – Rickie Fowler – 68 (-10)
T6 – Ross Fisher – 68 (-10)
T8 – Shane Lowry – 65 (-9)
T8 – Thomas Pieters – 66 (-9)
T8 – Henrik Stenson – 67 (-9)
T8 – Rory McIlroy – 70 (-9)
T8 – Xinjun Zhang – 68 (-9)
T8 – Matt Kuchar – 68 (-9)
Check back with us tomorrow as we’ll have all the key takeaways from the final day of the WGC-HSBC Champions.
More from Pro Golf Now
This article originally appeared on 
