Hideki Matsuyama clinched a dramatic victory at the FedEx St. Jude Championship in Memphis, overcoming a near-disastrous collapse in the final round to secure a two-shot win. The Japanese star, who began the day with a five-shot lead, saw his advantage evaporate after a series of bogeys and double bogeys. However, Matsuyama showed remarkable resilience, rallying with crucial birdies on two of the course’s toughest holes, including a 26-foot putt on the 17th, to salvage an even-par 70 and finish at 17-under 263.What makes Matsuyama’s victory even more remarkable is that he achieved it without his regular caddie and coach, who were unable to attend the tournament after being robbed at a London airport. Matsuyama had to rely on a fill-in caddie, Taiga Tabuchi, and work with his coach over the phone. ‘It was just kind of all of a sudden,’ Matsuyama said, describing the moment he learned of the theft. Despite these challenges, he remained focused and relied on his experience to navigate the pressure-packed final round.The win, Matsuyama’s second of the year and his first in the FedEx Cup playoffs, earned him a $3.6 million payday and vaulted him from 8th to 3rd in the FedEx Cup standings. Viktor Hovland and Xander Schauffele tied for second place, falling just short despite Schauffele’s impressive final-round 63.As the FedEx Cup playoffs continue, the top 50 players in the standings will advance to next week’s BMW Championship at Castle Pines Golf Club in Colorado. Scottie Scheffler maintains a comfortable lead atop the standings, while Matsuyama’s victory has significantly boosted his position heading into the next event.
Key points
- Hideki Matsuyama won the FedEx St.
- Matsuyama played without his regular caddie and coach, who were robbed in London.
- The victory moved Matsuyama from 8th to 3rd in the FedEx Cup standings, earning him $3.
- The top 50 players will advance to the BMW Championship in Colorado next week.
Jude Championship despite losing a five-shot lead in the final round.
6 million.
