Mikumu Horikawa, who has been suffering from yips for a while has come over it by battling against slick and tough almost a Major setting green. Mikumu played bogey free round of 63 and regained his confidence on putting.

"I regained my confidence on putting. Until now, I was making unnecessary movements during my follow through. Simply said, it was putting yips. I used to be really good with reading the lines and putting was my strong point. I felt as if I was hitting inside water on my follow through. My right hand couldn't move smoothly, and my club face was wobbly during the strike. 1-meter uphill line ended up 1 full cup away to the right."

Yips is told that it is most mental thing, but when you are haunted by it there is no way out.

"You can't avoid putting, so I tried so many different putters, long and middle length and all. No matter how much I changed the type of the putter, I still have to putt, so I had to solve this yips. I tried taking long breath during the putt, changed my eyesight placement, I also tried closing my eye too. Different grips and strokes, and everything I could think of."

Out of all of the trials, 3 tips helped him to get out of the fog.

"Actually, it's not the complete solution yet so I want to keep the tips as secret. I still suffer yips during my rounds, but I will try to limit it less as possible and add changes on putting accordingly as I play."

But today, on the well-known slick and fast green of ABC Golf Club, Mikumu seemed to have found solution to his yips.

"This green is so beautiful so, if you read it correctly, it is makable. I was able to make many satisfactory putts today."

Mikumu made 9 birdies to jump up as 1T going into final Sunday.

"I am so pleased to see that my performance is on a good route. Maybe there is a chance for me tomorrow. I would be really happy if I could completely cure my yips too."

Mikumu will be in the final group on the Final Round since he did back in 2019's Vantelin Tokai Classic.

"My putting is okay on practice, so the key is to putt well on the tournament under the pressure."