Japan's Hideki Matsuyama overcame a significant challenge at the FedEx St. Jude Championship in Tennessee to claim victory, despite surrendering a five-shot overnight lead. Matsuyama, who recently secured a bronze medal at the Paris Olympics, maintained a strong lead through the front nine. However, his performance faltered as he lost four shots over four holes, including a costly tee shot into the water on the 14th hole.
This stumble opened the door for Viktor Hovland to take the lead, but Matsuyama regained his focus just in time. A crucial 26-foot putt on the 17th hole allowed him to reclaim the lead by one shot with just one hole remaining. On the final hole, a superb second shot landed on the green, setting up a birdie putt that secured Matsuyama's victory by two strokes, marking a triumphant start to the PGA Tour's season-ending playoffs.
Matsuyama's win was particularly impressive given that he was without his regular caddie, who was absent after the team was robbed during a stopover in London following the Olympics. Despite this setback, Matsuyama managed to hold off strong competition, including Norway's defending champion Viktor Hovland, who finished tied for second with American world number two Xander Schauffele at 15 under par.
American world number one Scottie Scheffler secured fourth place, finishing 14 under par. The tournament featured the top 70 players in the FedEx Cup standings, with the top 50 advancing to the next round at the BMW Championship in Colorado. These top 50 players have also earned eligibility for each of the eight PGA Tour signature events in 2025.
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