That early alarm call for the millions of Japanese sports fans back home will be worth a bleary-eyed Monday.

Matsuyama confidently strides up the fairway in the setting Augusta sun, knowing he is one more good shot away from a life-changing title.

Driving for show... Matsuyama has the big 'un out on the 18th tee. Wonderful stuff. Straight down the middle.

Will Zalatoris might as well pack up on the range and head off for a post-round pimento cheese sandwich.

Not seen much of Will Zalatoris since his round finished.

That's because the 24-year-old is on the practice ground clipping balls just in case of a play-off.

No point Matsuyama going hell for leather with his birdie putt. Let's see if he agrees... yes, he does. Nothing daft this time, just easing the ball to the side of the hole and tapping in for a par.

Xander Schauffele bounces back from that horror show on 16 with a steady par.

But it is all about Matsuyama again now. He is one decent hole away from becoming the Masters champion...

This is the moment which saw Xander Schauffele's bid for the Masters sink...

A huge smile for Justin Rose. The championship may well have slipped away but he finishes with a superb putt to claim a birdie at the last.

It draws a huge roar from the watching patrons, who thought the Englishman had given up on that.

Robert MacIntyre speaking to Sky Sports: “I’m coming off delighted. When I’m on there I was disappointed with the way I finished but the birdie at the last might have got me back for next year so I have to take the positives.

“I have played great for my first year and tried to manage my way around the golf course that I have never seen and only played on computer games with my pals, so it is completely different being here in the battle."

Lovely stuff. Hideki Maysuyama confidently knocks his second shot to 20 feet of the 17th hole.

The Augusta tailor is now rifling through the wardrobe for a Green Jacket which matches the Japanese player's chest and shoulder size.

Will Zalatoris looks set to finish at least second. After an excellent birdie putt on the 17th to get to nine under, the American makes a great par save on the last.

He was in Sandy Lyle's bunker off the tee and pushed his second to the right of the green. His third left him a 20-footer for par, which he drained to terrific applause.

A great first Masters.

Over to you Hideki.

How about this for a stat... better not to mention it to Xander Schauffele.

The triple bogey on the 16th hole was the first for the American in a major championship. So his first in 1,042 holes.

So, with Schauffele's race run, only Hideki Matsuyama stands between Hideki Matsuyama and the Green Jacket.

The man aiming to become the first from Japan to win a major title has a two-shot lead over young American Will Zalatoris with two to play.

His drive on the 17th goes exactly where it needs to: that's the fairway.

Still smiling on the outside, wonder what he's thinking on the inside...

A generous and sympathetic round of applause greets Schauffele's knock back on to the 16th green. The Augusta patrons were dreaming of a late American charge for a brief while. Not any more.

A forlorn-looking Schauffele misses the putt but avoids further ignominy by sinking his ball for a six.

Matsuyama safely taps his 45-foot putt to about seven feet, knowing he can probably afford to miss that one if he has to. That's what happens and he goes back down to -11.

Both Justin Rose and Marc Leishman would have hoped to put a run together when they set out just over four hours ago.

But a par on the 17th means both remain in the red numbers for today and well off the lead with one hole to play.

Before Matsuyama strides to the green asking for the putter, Schauffele must reload. This time he avoids the water but can't find the green. He's through the back and his Masters hopes are seemingly in tatters.

Schauffele's error leaves the door wide open for Matsuyama.

"Play it safe, Hideki" is what the whole of Japan will be shouting at their television screen.

That's exactly what he does. The leader is safely on the green and closing in on his first major title.

A few minutes earlier, Marc Leishman played a fantastic iron shot off the tee on the 16th, using the slope in the middle of the green to propel his ball to about three or four inches of the hole. That's how you play it Xander.

The crowd were willing that in for a hole-in-one.

In contrast Justin Rose pushed his birdie putt past and then lipped out (again) with his attempt to save par.

Another twist! All that hard work from Schauffele - and the helping hand from Matsuyama - goes down the pan. Or, more accurately, into the pond.

Schauffele tugs his tee shot left, hits the bank and his ball slides slowly into the water.

You wanted drama, you've got drama.

Just when it seemed the Masters was petering out into a procession, Hideki Matsuyama decided to crank up the entertainment.

Two shots between the final pair, three holes to go...

We have just been privy to the Japanese television commentary of Matsuyama lumping his second into the water. You didn't need to understand what was actually said. The pitch and tone said a thousand words.

Matsuyama has chipped very nicely today, though, it must be said. He knocks onto the fringe, allowing the longer cut to slow down his ball.

Now the plan is to two putt from there for a bogey. All rather needless though.

Schauffele, with the pressure of the situation on him too, weights his bunker shot perfectly and leaves himself with what should be a tap in for birdie...

Warm applause as Robert MacIntyre winds an iron shot in to 13 feet of the pin on the 18th. Can he knock this in for birdie? Yes he can.

What a way to conclude his first Masters.

Tony Finau also finishes with a flourish with a superb putt from the right fringe.