It has been 12 years since Hiroshi Iwata will be leader going onto the Final Sunday round.
"I myself is surprised about this. I don't remember the last time this happened to me. It has been ages since the last time."

Hiroshi started off at 3rd, 1 shot behind the co-leaders. Tokyo Yomiuri CC got even tougher due to heavy rain and freezing weather on Saturday. Hiroshi made 2 bogeys and he was down to total 5 under before the turn.
"It was too cold, and I was losing my distance too. So, I had to bear with all sorts of frustrations."

But at the turn, he saw that he was 5 shots behind the leaders.
"I just couldn't believe how the players on top of the leader board was able to play under par in such conditions."

This lit fire on Hiroshi.
"I told myself I must not get too behind the leaders."
With that concentration, he made his first birdie on 12th with 5-meter putt. Then on Par 5 17th, his 25 yards short game stuck to 1-meter for another birdie. He was able to pay off his deficit and finished Even for today and at the end, he was solo leader with total of 7 under par. It has been 5 years since he last played in the final group on the Final Round.
"I can't remember since it has been 6 years. I just can't imagine. I'm a bit worried."

Hiroshi has won his 2nd Tour victory at the Shigeo Nagashima Invitational SEGA Sammy Cup in 2015. Then on the US Open in that same year, he scored lowest tie Major score of 63 on R2 and Hiroshi achieved his ticket to the US PGA. But at AT&T Pebble Beach ProAm, he played in the final group on Final Round and finished at 4th but couldn't keep his US PGA Tour card.
"I was al beat up when I came back. No matter how I practiced, I just couldn't get my game back. During those days I lost confidence and couldn't think positive at all. Now, I am still lacking confidence, but sometimes it goes away on the course or that feeling stays but I get to play well. On the other hand, I could gain my confidence back, but my score could be terrible. I really don't know. But one thing is sure that the weather will be better tomorrow, and everyone will aim for big score, so the key will be putting."

Hiroshi kept on practicing on the green after his round, went away for a while and came back to practice more until pitch darkness was over him. Hiroshi may not speak out a lot, but he has shown his determination for his passion for victory tomorrow.