MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Hideki Matsuyama misplaced his pockets in London and misplaced his caddie and coach for the beginning of the FedExCup playoffs from thieves who snatched their bag. None of that appeared to hassle the Japanese star Thursday to start out of the PGA Tour’s postseason.
Chris Kirk made a hole-in-one on his method to a 6-under 64 for a one-shot lead within the FedEx St. Jude Championship. Olympic gold medalist Scottie Scheffler and double main winner Xander Schauffele , one of the best two gamers in golf, have been proper within the combine as anticipated.
The shock in some respects was Matsuyama, the Olympic bronze medalist who has had loads of distractions since leaving Paris and nonetheless motored across the TPC Southwind on a sweltering day for a 65.
Information, updates, scoring and highlights from the opening spherical of the FedEx St. Jude Championship.
“I’ve forgotten it utterly. It’s not even a difficulty now,” Matsuyama mentioned by means of his interpreter.
He stopped over in London with caddie Shota Hayato and his swing coach, Mikihito Kuromiya. They have been having dinner on the town when Matsuyama mentioned his caddie observed the bag was not there. The contents included Matsuyama’s pockets, the passports of Hayato and Kuromiya. Matsuyama had left his passport — and his bronze medal — in his lodge room.
“It was an unlucky state of affairs,” Matsuyama mentioned. “Fortunately, I solely misplaced my pockets, however Shota, my caddie, and the coach, misplaced their passports, and we’re attempting onerous now to get their visas again in line. And, hopefully, we are able to be part of as a staff as quickly as doable.”
Within the meantime, he lined up Taiga Tabuchi, who had been caddying on the Japan LPGA lately and had labored with Ryo Hisatsune on the PGA Tour earlier this 12 months.
New caddie, usual Hideki. The previous Masters champion has been constructing momentum over the past month. After hitting into the water and taking bogey on the par-5 third gap, he answered with loads of birdies — 4 in a five-hole stretch on the again 9, for a 65.
“My job is identical. It’s simply play golf,” Matsuyama mentioned. “I discuss to my coach each night time on the telephone. I’ve acquired a fantastic caddie — Taiga did a fantastic job immediately. So we’ll simply see the way it goes.”
Hayato hopes to be again on the bag on the Tour Championship. Matsuyama is No. 8 within the FedEx Cup and guaranteed of being there.
That isn’t the case for Kirk, who’s No. 28 within the standings. The highest 50 after this week advance to the BMW Championship exterior Denver, after which the highest 30 from there go to Atlanta.
