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SHANGHAI -- Hideki Matsuyama arrived at the HSBC Champions as the first Japanese player in almost two decades to reach the top 10 in the world ranking. Jeff Bagwell Astros Jersey . His 19 birdies over 36 holes in biting chill and swirling wind helped explain how he got there.Even as the weather shifted dramatically Friday at Sheshan International, Matsuyama kept piling up the birdies. One last birdie on the par-5 18th gave him a 7-under 65 and a three-shot lead going into the weekend of the final World Golf Championships event of the year.He is playing very well, said Rory McIlroy, who was six shots behind. And hell be tough to catch.Matsuyama was at 13-under 131 and led by three shots over defending champion Russell Knox (68) and Bill Haas (67). He shouldnt have been surprised by the result because it was his eighth consecutive score in the 60s dating to the second round of the Tour Championship.What made this one so satisfying were the conditions.Rain the past two days gave way to a strong wind when Matsuyama was warming up, and the wind made the sharp dip of temperatures into the 50s feel even worse.I thought maybe just a couple under par would be a good score, Matsuyama said. So Im really happy with how it ended up today. It was windy and cold. The ball, its hard to control. It was tough out there today.It was plenty tough for Adam Scott, who had a pair of double bogeys on the par-5s on his way to an 80. Kevin Kisner, a runner-up at the HSBC Champions last year, made a 9 on the final hole for an 80.Fifteen players still managed to break 70 because of the rain-softened greens, and while Matsuyamas 65 was the best score of the second round, making it even more impressive was that he also had two bogeys. On Thursday, he had 10 birdies against four bogeys.Nineteen birdies ... thats really, really strong, Knox said.Matsuyama already is having his biggest year since he began playing regularly around the world in 2014. He overcame a two-shot deficit over the final two holes and beat Rickie Fowler in the Phoenix Open. He had another top 10 in the Masters. While he went into a summer lull of poor putting -- missing the cut in the U.S. Open and The Open -- the 24-year-old returned to form at the PGA Championship with his best finish in a major (T-4) and has been steady ever since.Two weeks ago, he won the Japan Open for his ninth victory worldwide. He was runner-up to Justin Thomas in Malaysia last week, pushing his PGA Tour earnings for the year to over $4.6 million and moving him to No. 10.The last Japanese player in the top 10 was Jumbo Ozaki during the week of the 1998 Masters.A better attitude has helped this week too. Matsuyama doesnt have much of a record in the World Golf Championships, with his only top-10 at the Dell Match Play a year ago in San Francisco when he reached the quarterfinals only to be blown out by McIlroy.In three previous appearances at the HSBC Champions, he withdrew twice and tied for 41st.I havent really played well here before, Matsuyama said. So before coming here, I was a little bit nervous again thinking, Well, maybe its not going to be a good week for me. But then I decided, Lets just have fun this week. Its made a difference.It didnt look like much fun on Friday, particularly the final hour when the temperature dropped and a light rain fell.This felt like a cold day at Pebble Beach, said Daniel Berger, who shot a 70 and was in the group five shots behind.McIlroy thrived, too, and at least got back into the mix going into the weekend. He figured a 66 would do the trick, and it might have felt like more of an accomplishment if Matsuyama had not gone one better in the second round.McIlroys only blemish came at the reachable par-4 16th, when his tee shot was just right of the green and in a hazard. He found the ball in the bushes and thought for the longest time about playing it, constantly rehearsing a swing to see if the branches would allow him to make contact.A wiser head, and advice from his caddie, prevailed. McIlroy took a penalty drop and got out with a bogey. He made up for it with a birdie on the final hole for a 66 that at least has him in range, though much depends on Matsuyama.Theres definitely some rust in the 71 yesterday. I feel like Ive shaken most of that off, McIlroy said. It should be a good weekend. Im just happy to be in the mix. Houston Astros Hoodie . Here are his mid-season NBA awards. MVP: (KEVIN DURANT-Thunder) - Has been sensational this season and more importantly, the most consistent player in the league. Considering that his team has been without star guard Russell Westbrook and with the free agent departure of sharpshooter Kevin Martin, hes had to carry the majority of the load to not only keep his team afloat but more importantly, at an elite level. Jose Altuve Jersey . LUCIE, Fla. http://www.baseballastrosproshop.com/alex-bregman-astros-jersey/ .J. -- Marshawn Lynch said Thursday it will be good to get back to football after the Seattle quiet talking running back wrapped up his final mandatory media session of Super Bowl week. BLACKSBURG, Va. -- Justin Fuente arrives as Frank Beamers successor at Virginia Tech with an offensive background that has Hokies fans excited, and with lofty expectations.Last season at Memphis, Fuentes offense was steered by 6-foot-7 quarterback Paxton Lynch, the 26th player selected overall in the NFL draft, and hes not yet certain who will fill that role for the Hokies. The contenders are Brenden Motley, who showed dual-threat ability in six starts last season, and transfer Jerod Evans. He has no major college experience, but threw for 38 touchdowns against just three interceptions in just eight games before being sidelined with a wrist injury last year at Trinity Valley Community College in Texas.Motley, a fifth-year senior, was inherited, while Fuente also recruited Evans when he was at Memphis.Fuente has expressed no desire to rush before making a decision, and thats fine with the contenders.Im a team-first guy, Motley said. I know Rod is a team-first guy. If thats what coach wants to do, thats fine with me.Revered defensive coordinator Bud Foster is still around calling the defensive shots. He is looking to rebuild a defense that disappointed last season, especially in its inability to stop the run.Last year was very poor according to our standards, Foster said as camp got started. We are going to get back to that. I dont feel any pressure. When coach (Fuente) and I first started talking, he told me that I wouldnt have to play perfect defense anymore. I told him that he doesnt know me very well from that standpoint.In the offseason, several linemen in the defensive mix bulked up and got faster. With potential phenom Tim Settle in better shape and still weighing in at above 320 pounds -- and several other linemen having added weight and muscle -- Foster is optimistic.It is hard to play perfect, he said of the defense overall, but we are looking forr excellence. Carlos Gomez Astros Jersey. ere are some things to watch at Virginia Tech this season:OPENING DAYThe Fuente era begins with a home game against Liberty, and the Hokies would do well to perform in a way that gives them a good feeling heading into Week Two. Thats when they will play Tennessee of the SEC at Bristol Motor Speedway, a long-anticipated matchup where 150,000 or so fans are expected to be in attendance.RECEIVER SHORTAGEIn Isaiah Ford and Cam Phillips, Virginia Tech has one of the best tandems of receivers in the ACC. Fuente likes to play fast and shuttle in lots of players. That has put pressure on young receivers to learn fast, although tight end Bucky Hodges and fullback Sam Rogers are also very capable pass-catchers.LINEBACKER DEPTHFoster has several young players that he has high expectations for, and in a defensive scheme that feeds a lot of the playmaking to the linebackers, he will need several of them to be ready to prove that his expectations are warranted quickly.KEY GAMESThe matchup with the Vols is huge and has been hyped as such. But with a Coastal Division title the primary objective for the year, the Hokies games at division rivals North Carolina on Oct. 8, at home on a Thursday night against Miami on Oct. 20 and at Duke of Nov. 5 will have the most to say about their prospects.PREDICTIONThe Hokies have limped into bowl eligibility several times in recent years, leading to the change at the top. But Fuentes fast-paced system is much different that the conservative approach Beamer preferred, and while it may take some time to hit their stride, theres too much talent not to go bowling again.---Online:The APs college football page: www.collegefootball.ap.org---Follow Hank on Twitter: www.twitter.com/hankkurzjr Cheap NFL JerseysCheap NFL Jerseys ChinaCheap Jerseys From ChinaCheap NFL Jerseys AuthenticWholesale Jerseys ChinaCheap NFL Jerseys ChinaNFL Cheap Jerseys ' ' '
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