Hideki Matsuyama regained his composure to win the FedEx St. Jude Championship with a birdie-birdie finish after earlier seemingly having blown his big 54-hole lead at TPC Southwind.
He started the final round on -17 with a five-shot advantage over his nearest rival, Nick Dunlap. The Japanese pro, who won bronze at the Olympics, then had a huge escape in the final round when he avoided a two-shot penalty for treading down a pitch mark in the vicinity of his line when off the green.
But the episode on the seventh, which was brought to Matsuyama's attention on the 12th, threatened to derail his round as he then made his first bogey on the 12th before dropping three further shots , including going on the water on the 14th in Memphis.
Yet Matsuyama belatedly regained his composure after briefly losing the lead to Viktor Hovland before he finished brilliantly with birdies on the last two holes. That completed an even par round to disappoint Hovland and Xander Schauffele in the clubhouse on -15 hoping for a play-off. Schauffele shot a superb 63, which even included lipping out with a chip at the last.
Matsuyama's 10th win on the PGA Tour, to earn $3.6 million, was just days on from an incident in London where he, his caddie Shota Hayafuji, and his coach were victims of a robbery. The pro had his wallet taken while both caddie and coach were dispossessed of their respective passports, forcing them to return back to Japan for new ones.
Elsewhere there was drama down the leaderboard too as the likes of Nick Dunlap, Cam Davis and Max Greyserman secured top 50 spots in the FedEx Cup ahead of the BMW Championship next week while Tom Kim missed out.
FedEx St Jude Championship Leaderboard
-17 Hideki Matsuyama
-15 Xander Schauffele, Viktor Hovland
-14 Scottie Scheffler
-13 Sam Burns, Nick Dunlap
-12 Wyndham Clark, Robert MacIntyre
-11 Denny McCarthy
-10 Billy Horschel, Seamus Power
Updates from...
Welcome
Hello to all and welcome to Golf Monthly's coverage of the FedEx St Jude Championship final round at TPC Southwind.
The first round of the FedEx Cup Playoffs is heading towards its conclusion, and although it appears as if Matsuyama will be claiming the title, there is no shortage of storylines and interesting threads to follow for the other 69 players involved.
The leaders are due off at 12:40pm CT (6:40pm BST), so sit back and enjoy as we bring you all of the key moments until a champion is crowned. Thank you for tuning in!
GREAT START FOR BURNS
Burns has started with a bang and a birdie in his bid to put Matsuyama under pressure. After a 302-yard drive down the fairway, he put his wedge from 107 yards to 18 feet and drained the putt. Boom.
SCHEFFLER UNDERWAY AS FINDS FAIRWAY
Scottie Scheffler has begun his hunt. He has split the fairway with a 268-yard drive and has 147 yards to the pin. If he comes from behind to win today that would eclipse his best comeback to triumph which was from five shots back earlier this year over Brian Harman at the Players. Scheffler is 40 yards behind playing partner Viktor Hovland who took driver instead.
Wyndham Clark is on a tear
Clark is up to -9 following a -3 start for five holes today.
BirdieParBirdieBirdie@Wyndham_Clark is off the a start @FedExChamp 🔥 pic.twitter.com/2nE6cgppVKAugust 18, 2024
SCHEFFLER WITH AN EARLY BIRDIE LOOK ON THE FIRST
World No.1 and new Olympic champion Scheffler has fired in a wedge from 148 yards to eight feet at the first which he converts. That will boost his confidence with the flat-stick.
MATSUYAMA FINDS THE FAIRWAY OFF THE FIRST
Matsuyama is underway with a three-wood off the first with a 274 yard drive which he drills in close from 141 yards in an impressive start but his putt slides by from about eight feet as playing partner Nick Dunlap makes birdie from close range to cut the lead to four.
SCHEFFLER HANDS SHOT STRAIGHT BACK AT SECOND
After an opening birdie, Scheffler has made a mess of the second and handed his gain straight back. Scheffler missed the fairway on the right off the tee, found sand and splashed out past the flag to 20 feet.
Open champion Xander Schauffele climbs into potential contention
Troon hero Xander Schauffele is -2 today for three holes and -10 in total as the in-form American makes an early move. Denny McCarthy is also up to -10.
MATSUYAMA OPENS WITH SECOND SUCCESSIVE PAR
Matsuyama has gone close with a long birdie try on the second but gets another stress free tap in par. Meanwhile in the pack behind him Sam Burns has picked up a second birdie in three holes to get to -12.
PACK CONTINUING TO BUNCH UP BEHIND LEADER
After opening with successive pars, Matsuyama will have a good birdie chance at the par 5 third where he is pin high in two in the fringe. But behind him the likes of Hovland and Scheffler have made ground and are both -1 today.
SCHEFFLER PLAY FINE SHOT INTO FIRST PAR 3
Scottie Scheffler has played a decent shot in at the fourth to the 191-yard par 3 , which has water on the left. Scheffler will have a birdie look from 21 feet.
PRESSURE FOR THOSE TRYING TO MAKE TOP 50 TOO
There is not just pressure at the top of the leaderboard because pros are competing to make the top 50 to make the BMW Championship in the FedEx Cup.
• Bogey on the 16th hole• Double on the 17th hole• Double on the 18th holeTom Kim was 46th in the #FedExCup standings on the 16th tee. He's now projected 51st. pic.twitter.com/QL1oSGcjmQAugust 18, 2024
MATSUYAMA AND DUNLAP FAIL TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF FIRST PAR 5
Disappointment for Matsuyama on the par 5 third after the Japanese bronze medallist from the Olympics put his fairway wood pin high in the rough from his second. He then fluffed his chip and remains level par today.
MATSUYAMA CONTINUING TO PLOD ALONG AT FOURTH
Leader Matsuyama has flown the par 3 fourth with his tee shot and will do well to make par again. He has then chipped up to four feet but it looks to be above the hole leaving a downhill putt which he makes.
Xander Schauffele makes another birdie
If Matsuyama is scoreboard watcher, he might be getting slightly concerned now by Xander Schauffele coming up the rails fast. The Open champion is in a tie for third now after going -4 for six holes after a birdie on the sixth.
DUNLAP BOOMS A BIG DRIVE DOWN FIFTH BUT STRUGGLING TO MAKE PAR
Dunlap has driven his tee shot 334-yards at the long par 4 fifth. He has given himself a decent angle into the green from 168 yards but he didn't get a good lie and his effort comes up short. He is then unhappy with his chip which runs past the hole as he drops a shot but Matsuyama has a tap in par though as he restores his five-shot lead.
It's Championship Sunday at the 124th U.S. Amateur 👏One year ago, @NickDunlap62 won the 123rd U.S. Amateur at Cherry Hills Country Club 🏆Since then he has won twice on the @PGATOUR, made the #FedExCup Playoffs, and is currently solo second @FedExChamp. pic.twitter.com/uUfGi8e267August 18, 2024
SCHEFFLER JOINS SCHAUFFELE IN CHASE
Scheffler is now -2 for his round after a birdie at the sixth and is -12 in total in a tie for second. The Olympic golf medallist put a wedge from 115 yards to 10 feet and holed the putt.
MATSUYAMA WITH A BIRDIE LOOK AT THE SIXTH
Matsuyama is still searching for his first birdie of the day after opening with five straight pars. He has a putt for a birdie three on the par 4 sixth after a wedge from 115 yards to 15 feet. It stays out though as the leader remains -17 which gives the pack hope including playing partner Dunlap who makes a decent up and down to stay -12 - five behind.
GREAT FINISH FROM Maverick McNealy
Fantastic finish from McNealy who was -3 for his final three holes, including an eagle from the sand, to get into the top 10 here and move into the top 50 in the FedEx Cup points to in all likelihood book his spot for next week.
No. 59 ➡️ No. 52Maverick McNealy's eagle inches him closer to the top 50 in the #FedExCup Standings. pic.twitter.com/TrrzSa7xnjAugust 18, 2024
SCHEFFLER FIRES IN GOOD SHOT AT PAR 3 EIGHTH
Scheffler has another birdie look to cut Matsuyama's lead after a fine tee shot straight at the flag at the par 3 eighth which will leave him a putt from 18 feet.
CONTRASTING FORTUNES FOR FINAL PAIR AT THE SEVENTH
Dunlap and Matsuyama both hit decent drives down the seventh but Matsuyama's wedge from 125 yards came up short and spun backwards to leave a chip from 33 feet while Dunlap's approach came in over the flag and is six foot away. Dunlap makes his putt but the leader gets up and down.
OMENS LOOKING GOOD FOR MATSUYAMA
Matsuyama, who began with his biggest ever 54-hole lead, is level par after seven holes which is what he produced when he won the Masters. He has now hit the eighth green too where he will have a 38 feet putt for birdie which he drops.
SG: Putting this season ... 136thSG: Putting this week ... 1st@HidekiOfficial_ has found it with the putter. pic.twitter.com/U0c8nyuldxAugust 18, 2024
LAST YEAR'S FEDEX CHAMP VIKTOR HOVLAND RIGHT UP THERE
Hovland, who won the FedEx Cup last season and $18million, is -2 at the turn and -13 in total as he moves to within five of the lead after birdies on the eighth and ninth.
MATSUYAMA -1 FOR HIS ROUND AT THE TURN
Matsuyama continues to go along steadily after reaching the turn -1 and -18 in total. He is five ahead and it will take something special to beat him on the back nine as he is driving the ball well and doesn't look to have any big errors in his game at the moment...but we thought that last week with Max Greyserman too!
SCHAUFFELE HAS A CHANCE TO GET TO -13
Cracking approach from 119 yards from Xander Schauffele at the 12th to give him a great birdie chance from four feet. That would get him to -13 and into a tie for second as he makes it.
Fifth birdie of the day for @XSchauffele!He grabs a share of second @FedExChamp. pic.twitter.com/Lal8J77ecCAugust 18, 2024
MATSUYAMA GOES OVER THE BACK OF THE 10TH
Matsuyama is over the back of the par 4 10th despite having 140yards with his approach. He now has a tricky chip back over a ridge to a front flag which he executes superbly to four feet as he makes par and Nick Dunlap three putts.
IS SCHAUFFELE COMPILING ANOTHER VINTAGE FINAL ROUND?!
Schauffele has won two Majors this year with brilliant final round displays and he is building another one here after a birdie on the 13th to get to -6 for his round and -14 in total in second place by himself with five holes left.
Fifth birdie of the day for @XSchauffele!He grabs a share of second @FedExChamp. pic.twitter.com/Lal8J77ecCAugust 18, 2024
MATSUYAMA CONTINUES TO BE SUPER FRONTRUNNER
Every time someone threatens to haul Matsuyama back, the Japanese pro drops a birdie to keep his big lead. It is now five shots after a cracking two at the par 3 11th which is an island green.
All gas, no brakes. @HidekiOfficial_ moves to 19-under and leads by five @FedExChamp. pic.twitter.com/MYXy0DJ0lSAugust 18, 2024
HUGE DRAMA AS MATSUYAMA ASSESSED FOR A TWO SHOT PENALTY
Big developments as Matsuyama has been approached by tour officials over repairing his pitch mark when he was off the green on the seventh which was potentially in his line of play. But he has escaped with no penalty. He can consider himself fortunate there as he clearly trod on his own pitch mark even though he was off the green. He has escaped after insisting it wasn't on his line as his chip pitched further left.
MATSUYAMA'S SUFFERS FIRST BOGEY OF DAY AFTER TALKING TO BY RULES OFFICIAL
Matsuyama was spoken to by rules officials on the 12th over an incident at the seventh. He escaped a potential penalty but went on to drop a shot with his first bogey of the day.
MATSUYAMA DRIVES INTO SAND ON THE 13TH
Fresh from dropping his first shot on the 12th after being approached over a potential rules infringement en-route to his first bogey of the day, leader Matsuyama has now driven into the sand on the 13th but he has still found the putting surface and now has a clutch five-foot putt to save par which he makes.
GREYSERMAN SWEATING ON A TOP 50 SPOT
After his final round meltdown last week to blow his first PGA Tour title, Greyserman has finished well today and is hoping to get into the top 50.
The waiting game begins after a clutch up-and-down for 63. Currently No. 48 in the #FedExCup Standings, @MaxGreyserman will wait to see if it's enough to make it to @BMWChamps ... and keep an eye on flights. pic.twitter.com/F7knmACVl0August 18, 2024
MATSUYAMA DUNKS HIS TEE SHOT IN WATER ON 14TH
Matsuyama appeared in total control on the front nine but has not looked so composed since being spoken to by rules officials on the 12th. Now at the 14th his round has hit a new low after he dunked his tee shot at the par 3 into the drink. He has taken a drop and chipped up close to six foot to crucially hole out for his bogey.
GAME ON IN THE CLOSING STRETCH
Matsuyama's bogey on the 14th after going in the water means his once five-shot lead is down to two shots after birdies by Xander Schauffele and Viktor Hovland. We are set for an exciting finish here.
Hideki Matsuyama's tee shot finds the water on No. 14. He walks away with a bogey and the lead shrinks to 2. pic.twitter.com/70rQOwwWf5August 18, 2024
MATSUYAMA'S MISSES THE 15TH GREEN WITH HIS APPROACH
Matsuyama's trials and tribulations continue at the 15th where he has missed the green with a wedge from 143-yards which has flown the green. He has then failed to get on the green in three with a poor chip before promptly quickly playing his fourth shot which comes up 20-feet short. The Japanese pro is +2 today and is clearly rattled. His double bogey means he is no longer leading. That privilege goes to Hovland who is -5 today.
HOVLAND IS NOW LEADING ON HIS OWN AT -16
Hovland is -5 for the day and leading now after Matsuyama's dramatic meltdown. The Norwegian is on the 17th where he has missed the fairway on the right from where he has played up into a green side trap and splashed out past the hole.
MATSUYAMA AND DUNLAP PUT ON THE CLOCK
Matsuyama's mind looks scrambled and now to add to his woes his pairing with Nick Dunlap have been put on the clock for being too slow as he has dropped four shots in his last four holes. But he could pull a shot back on the 16th where he is just short of the par five in two.
SCHAUFFELE IN THE CLUBHOUSE ON -15
Schauffele's brilliant 63 puts him in the clubhouse on -15. Will it be enough with Matsuyama in freefall after his chat with the rules officials while Hovland will do well not to drop a shot on the 17th.
HOVLAND DROPS A SHOT WITH BOGEY ON 17TH
Hovland is back to -15 after a bogey on the 17th and now Matsuyama could go back infront if he makes birdie on the par 5 16th but his effort misses and the duo are tied at -15 with Schauffele who is in the clubhouse
1 back and 1 hole left. @XSchauffele had this to tie the lead ... 😳 pic.twitter.com/m6GBmiOFsVAugust 18, 2024
HOVLAND MAKES FINE DRIVE UP THE LAST
Hovland could win this with a birdie at the last. He has boomed a 299-yard drive to open up the par 4 and stuck his approach from 174 yards in close but he fails to convert it and finishes on -15.
MATSUYAMA ON 17TH IN REGULATION
Joint leader Matsuyama is on the 17th in two and has a long birdie look from 26 feet which he has rolled in to get back infront as he pumps his fist in delight.
Sinking the birdie putt when he needs it most. @HidekiOfficial_ drains it from 26 feet to regain the solo lead @FedExChamp. pic.twitter.com/10NU4vVciVAugust 18, 2024
MATSUYAMA NOW NEEDS A PAR AT THE LAST TO WIN AS MAKES GOOD DRIVE
Hovland's bogey , par finish means Matsuyama needs a par at the last to win the tournament after an extremely eventful final round. The bronze medallist has failed to find a single fairway on the back nine but has bombed a drive up the last on to the short stuff.
MATSUYAMA 280-YARD DRIVE LEAVES HIM IN PRIME POSITION
Matsuyama is in great shape needing a par at the last and he has 158 yards to the pin. Playing partner Nick Dunlap is already on the green in regulation as he looks to secure a top 50 place.
BRILLIANT APPROACH TO THE LAST FOR HIDEKI
Hideki has the title in the bag now surely after an outrageous approach to the last which went on an aggressive line over water straight at the flag. He now has a two putts from six foot for the title.
Win No. 10 for Hideki at the @FedExChamp! 🏆Matsuyama is victorious at the first event of the #FedExCup Playoffs. pic.twitter.com/LWiLnvuuUVAugust 18, 2024
MATSUYAMA FINISHES WITH SUCCESSIVE BIRDIES
Matsuyama has finished birdie , birdie in style to win after looking like he had blown it when he lost the lead to Viktor Hovland. What a thrilling finish.
Birdie-birdie finish to seal the deal! @HidekiOfficial_ earns his second win of the season @FedExChamp 🏆🏆 pic.twitter.com/edkX5k5alxAugust 18, 2024
