FedExCup Playoffs
Published by Bonnyton Golf Club in Golf News · Monday 19 Aug 2024
Hideki Matsuyama overcame a dramatic collapse, where a five-shot lead vanished in just four holes, to secure a tense two-stroke win at the FedEx St. Jude Championship. Despite the scare, two closing birdies helped Matsuyama claim his 10th PGA Tour title with a final score of 17 under.
The tournament is part of the PGA Tour’s season-ending FedExCup Playoffs, where only the top 50 players advance to the BMW Championship. Unfortunately for England’s Justin Rose, his back-to-back rounds of 71 left him in 55th place, missing the cut for next week’s event. Rose finished tied for 22nd at six under par, ultimately falling outside the qualifying spots.
Keegan Bradley, the U.S. Ryder Cup captain, clinched the 50th spot after a nerve-wracking Sunday where he was projected to miss out for much of the day. Other notable movers included Viktor Hovland, who tied for second, and Eric Cole, who surged into the top 50 with a stunning 63 to match the lowest round of the day.
However, it wasn’t all success stories. Players like Tom Kim, Mackenzie Hughes, and Jake Knapp dropped out of the top 50. Kim’s struggles were particularly heartbreaking as a bunker mishap on the 16th hole led to a bogey and back-to-back double bogeys, dropping him to 51st overall.
At the top of the leaderboard, Matsuyama’s victory came despite a nerve-wracking stretch of bogeys and a double-bogey between the 12th and 15th holes. Xander Schauffele, who began the final round nine strokes behind, mounted a fierce comeback with a bogey-free round but ultimately fell short.
Matsuyama sealed the victory with birdies on the 17th and 18th holes, overcoming the toughest hole on the course and a near-miss from Schauffele on 18. The victory came after a turbulent week for Matsuyama, whose team had been robbed in London before the tournament, forcing his caddie and coach to return to Japan after losing their passports.
World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler finished fourth with a 14-under total, three shots behind Matsuyama.
What's in his bag this week?
Driver: Srixon ZX5 Mk II LS (9.5° loft) with Graphite Design Tour AD DI 8 TX shaft 3-Wood: TaylorMade Qi10 (15° loft) with Graphite Design Tour AD DI 9 TX shaft 5-Wood: Cobra King RadSpeed Tour (17.5° loft) with Graphite Design Tour AD DI 10 TX shaft Irons: Srixon Z-Forged II (4i-PW) with True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue S400 shafts Wedges: Cleveland RTX 4 Forged Prototype (52°-10, 56°-8, 60°-08) with True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue S400 shafts Putter: Scotty Cameron Prototype Ball: Srixon Z-Star XV Grips: Iomic X
What's in his bag this week?
