Hideki Matsuyama nearly threw away five-shot lead earlier than recovering to win the FedEx St. Jude Championship, the primary of the PGA Tour’s end-of-season FedExCup eliminator occasions.
The Paris Olympics bronze medallist retained a wholesome lead on the entrance 9 earlier than his problem appeared to be slipping away as he misplaced 4 photographs on a four-hole stretch, which included a tee shot into water on the par-3 14th.
Matsuyama’s lapse allowed Viktor Hovland to maneuver in entrance earlier than the Japanese participant regained his composure on the seventeenth with a 26-foot birdie putt to retake the lead by one shot with one gap to play.
A wonderful second shot on the par-four 18th discovered the inexperienced earlier than a six-foot putt for birdie secured the title by two on the opening leg of the PGA Tour’s season-ending play-offs.
Matsuyama was enjoying at TPC Southwind with out his regular caddie Shota Hayafuki after his crew was robbed whereas on a stopover in London after the Olympics.
Though Matsuyama solely misplaced his pockets, his caddie and coach each had their passports stolen and needed to return to Japan to get new ones issued. Taiga Tabuschi, who caddies for Rio Hisatsune, stepped in to caddie for Matuysama and Memphis and helped his non permanent boss to assert the $3.6m first prize in Memphis.
HOVLAND RETURNS TO FORM
St. Jude Championship defending champion Hovland completed tied for second with American world quantity two Xander Schauffele, who closed with a 63, on 15 below par.
World No.1 Scottie Scheffler completed fourth on 14 below in an occasion which featured the highest 70 within the FedEx Cup factors standings, with the highest 50 advancing to the subsequent spherical on the BMW Championship in Colorado.
Rory McIlroy might solely end tied 68th after consecutive weekend rounds of 74 left him on +9 for the week, however he progresses to the BMW Championship in fifth place within the FedExCup standings.
McIlroy was tied with Jordan Spieth, who introduced that he’s to take time without work to bear surgical procedure on his left wrist, which has been giving him bother all season.
For all of the scores from the FedEx St. Jude Championship, click on right here.
Hideki Matsuyama WITB
Driver: Srixon ZX5 Mk II LS (9.5°)
3 Wooden: TaylorMade Qi10 (15°)
5 Wooden: Cobra King RadSpeed Tour (19°)
Irons: Srixon Z-Solid II (4-PW)
Wedges: Cleveland RTX 4 Solid prototype (52°, 56°, 60°)
Putter: Scotty Cameron Prototype
Ball: Srixon Z-Star XV
