Yuki Inamori played with 5 birdies and 1 bogey to score 66, 1 shot behind leader. 5 top Money Ranking players are eligible to become the Order of Merit Champion by accomplishing each conditions. As for No.5 Yuki Inamori, he must win and No.1 Chan Kim to finish below solo 11th.
Yuki was saying he will change his putter to adjust for Tokyo Yomiuri CC's fast greens.
"But I went back to my ace putter after hitting with my other one. After I tried different putter and went back to my ace putter, I remembered the feeling that I had forgotten. At the end, my ace putter has done a great job today."
As he said, he made a great par save on 11th by making 8-meter putt. He was also saved by his putter on final 18th as his tee shot went over to right roughs. He thought that miss shot might lead to double bogey, but he made 4-meter to save par.
"I was really saved by making critical par putts today. I hope my putter will be supportive for rest of the tournament."
Yuki is known to be Mr. Accuracy as he is awarded with Driving Accuracy for 5 years in a row.
"My strategy is not to make bogeys here. Well, if the bogey was the result of playing aggressive then, it's okay, but I am aiming to make 2-putt for par on most of the holes."
There are only 2 players who has flipped the Money Rankings and became Order of Merit Champion on the season ending tournament. If Yuki makes that happen, he will be part of the elite list following Shingo Katayama in 2000, and Yusaku Miyazato in 2017.