AUGUSTA, April 12 -- Hideki Matsuyama reached the back nine in Sunday's tension-packed final round of the 85th Masters with a five-stroke lead as he tries to become the first Japanese man to win a major golf title.

Matsuyama, who began the day with a four-stroke lead at windy Augusta National, grinded out pars as rivals stumbled and added back-to-back birdies to close the front nine with American Will Zalatoris the only rival less than seven shots back.

World number 25 Matsuyama was chasing the champion's green jacket and a US$2.07 million(RM8.6 million) winner's prize as will as a place in Japanese history.

Matsuyama sent his opening tee shot well right into trees, punched out off pine straw short of the green, then pitched on and jus...