MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Hideki Matsuyama felt his decrease again beginning to act up. On a whim, he determined to place a brand new putter in his bag for the beginning of the PGA Tour postseason. And now the Japanese star has a five-shot lead going into the ultimate spherical of the FedEx St. Jude Championship.
“I’m stunned,” Matsuyama mentioned by means of his interpreter, breaking into a giant smile when he added, “however I did play effectively right this moment.”
He performed effectively sufficient for a second straight 6-under 64 that enabled him to tug away from a crowded area and put loads of distance between him and Nick Dunlap.
Matsuyama rapidly atoned for an early bogey by drilling a 3-wood over the water to fifteen ft and making the eagle putt. He stored including birdies the remainder of the day in additional steamy climate, and nobody may stick with him.
Denny McCarthy, who was tied for the 36-hole lead with Matsuyama, put 4 bogeys on his card earlier than registering his first birdie. Sam Burns had solely 5 pars — and a damaged driver — in his spherical of 70 to fall again. Scottie Scheffler misplaced floor with a couple of suspect chips and was seven photographs behind after a 69.
“I felt like I obtained away with some stuff, so hopefully clear it up just a little bit and provides myself much more alternatives,” Scheffler mentioned.
Scheffler was at 10-under 200 together with Burns, who slammed his driver to the bottom on No. 9 and broke off the top. He made double bogey to go together with 5 bogeys and 7 birdies. It was fairly a day.
Dunlap did his greatest to remain shut and was inside three photographs till one wild drive too many. He went to date proper on the twelfth that he cleared the water and landed on the opposite facet, after which managed to avoid wasting par. However he hit proper once more on the thirteenth in deep grass, could not attain the inexperienced and took bogey.
He shot 66 and shall be within the last group, extending his exceptional run. A yr in the past, he was profitable the U.S. Beginner at Cherry Hills. He received the American Specific in January as an beginner, turned professional, after which received the Barracuda Championship final month.
“I must be taking part in the U.S. Am this week, and I simply obtained executed taking part in a spherical of golf with Scottie. It was fairly cool,” Dunlap mentioned.
Dunlap is amongst 5 gamers with a number of wins this yr and nonetheless was a protracted shot to increase his season. He was No. 67 within the FedEx Cup as a result of he was an beginner for his first PGA Tour title and obtained no factors.
Even when he cannot catch Matsuyama, Dunlap has an opportunity to not solely be among the many prime 50 who advance to the BMW Championship subsequent week, however lock up a spot within the Tour Championship for the highest 30.
Matsuyama was at 17-under 193 and in place to seize his first FedEx Cup playoff occasion.
However this postseason opener was all about transferring on. The highest 50, together with attending to the subsequent playoff occasion outdoors Denver, are assured of entering into all eight of the $20 million signature occasions subsequent yr.
Viktor Hovland, the defending FedEx Cup champion who began this postseason at No. 57, took a giant step towards advancing with a 66. He was alone in third, six photographs behind.
“The ball is beginning to behave like I am anticipating it to,” Hovland mentioned. “The misses are means smaller than they was once. Earlier than they might be off the planet, whereas now it is manageable and I could make a pleasant up-and-down or make a protracted putt or no matter it’s.”
Jordan Spieth‘s season successfully ended when he made two double bogeys in his spherical of 74, leaving him in 69th place in opposition to a 70-man area.
Will Zalatoris got here into the postseason at No. 49 and shot 67 on Saturday. He was tied for sixth and all however assured of staying effectively inside the highest 50.
Amongst these on the bubble to advance going into Sunday are Justin Rose and Adam Scott. Rose is No. 55 within the FedEx Cup and was tied for ninth after 54 holes on the TPC Southwind. He shot 71 on Saturday after making double bogey on the final gap. Scott is at No. 46. He shot 68 and was projected inside the highest 50 going into the final day.
Others projected to be simply inside the highest 50 embody Harris English, nonetheless dealing with a nasty again, and Phoenix Open winner Nick Taylor.
Rory McIlroy, who was seen taking part in tennis after his opening spherical in sweltering warmth on Thursday, had a bogey and two double bogeys after simply 4 holes Saturday. He shot 74 and was towards the underside of the pack. However he may afford a lackluster week, having began at No. 3. He was projected to fall not more than a spot or two.
Matsuyama has three top-10s in his previous six begins, together with the bronze medal he received on the Paris Olympics. Why change putters? He is not likely positive.
“I’ve had the putter for some time, and I assumed it may be a superb week to debut that putter,” Matsuyama mentioned.
He leads the sphere in the important thing placing statistic, gaining on common practically seven photographs in opposition to the sphere. He additionally has 19 birdies and an eagle.
