JAPANESE star Hideki Matsuyama will be hoping his putter gets hot at THE PLAYERS Championship on Sunday after ending the third round in tied ninth place and seven shots behind new leader, Xander Schauffele of the U.S.

Matsuyama, a nine-time PGA TOUR winner, ground out a 4-under 68 at The Stadium Course at TPC Sawgrass on Saturday as Schauffele overcame a four-shot deficit with a 65 to seize the 54-hole lead on 17-under from overnight leader Wyndham Clark (70). Reigning Open champion Brian Harman carded the days’ best of 64 for solo third in the TOUR’s flagship US$25 million tournament.