Hideki Matsuyama emerged victorious at the 2024 FedEx St. Jude Championship in Memphis, TN, finishing at a remarkable -17. This marked his second win of the year, with his first being at the Genesis at Riviera back in February. Matsuyama has maintained a high level of play throughout the year, making his win at the championship unsurprising. Xander Schauffele and Viktor Hovland finished tied for third, two strokes behind Matsuyama.
During the final round, Matsuyama appeared to have a comfortable lead before giving back four strokes to the field on holes 12-15. However, he managed to regain his composure and secure the victory by making critical birdies on 17 and 18, moving up to third place in the FedEx Cup standings. Schauffele, who has had a stellar year with two major wins, continued his impressive performance. Hovland, on the other hand, struggled compared to his past success but showed signs of returning to form at the championship.
Matsuyama faced initial challenges at the start of the week when his caddie and coach had to return to Japan due to passport issues. He enlisted the help of Ryo Hisatsune’s caddie, proving to be a fortuitous decision. Scottie Scheffler finished in fourth place at -14, showcasing a consistent performance throughout the tournament. Another standout player was Nick Dunlap, whose T5 finish moved him up the leaderboard and increased his chances of making it to the East Lake in his rookie season.
The lower end of the leaderboard featured notable names like Rory McIlroy and Jordan Spieth, who struggled at the championship. McIlroy finished T68 at +9, while Spieth confirmed plans for wrist surgery in the off-season. With only the top 70 players in the FedEx Cup standings qualifying for the championship, competition was fierce for the 50 spots available at the upcoming BMW Championship in Colorado. While players like Hovland and Dunlap secured their places, others faced setbacks, like Tom Kim, who ended his season on a sour note.
In addition to his impressive performance on the course, Matsuyama’s equipment was also in the spotlight. His bag included a Srixon driver, TaylorMade and Cobra fairway woods, Srixon irons, Cleveland wedges, and a Scotty Cameron putter. As a clinical mental health therapist with a passion for golf, Dylan Thaemert provides insights into the championship and highlights the key moments and players of the event. Matsuyama’s victory and the competitive field at the FedEx St. Jude Championship set the stage for an exciting conclusion to the FedEx Cup Playoffs.
