MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Hideki Matsuyama felt his decrease again beginning to act up. On a whim, he determined to place a brand new putter in his bag for the beginning of the PGA Tour postseason. And now the Japanese star has a five-shot lead going into the ultimate spherical of the FedEx St. Jude Championship (click on right here for tee occasions).
“I’m shocked,” Matsuyama stated via his interpreter, breaking into a giant smile when he added, “however I did play properly at this time.”
He performed properly sufficient for a second straight 6-under 64 that enabled him to tug away from a crowded subject and put loads of distance between him and Nick Dunlap.
Matsuyama rapidly atoned for an early bogey by drilling a 3-wood over the water to fifteen toes and making the eagle putt. He stored including birdies the remainder of the day in additional steamy climate and nobody may stick with him.
Denny McCarthy, who was tied for the 36-hole lead with Matsuyama, put 4 bogeys on his card earlier than registering his first birdie. Sam Burns had solely 5 pars — and a damaged driver — in his spherical of 70 to fall again. Scottie Scheffler misplaced floor with just a few suspect chips and was seven photographs behind after a 69.
“I felt like I obtained away with some stuff, so hopefully clear it up somewhat bit and provides myself much more alternatives,” Scheffler stated.
Scheffler was at 10-under 200 together with Burns, who slammed his driver to the bottom on No. 9 and the pinnacle broke off. He made double bogey to go together with 5 bogeys and 7 birdies. It was fairly a day.
