Hideki Matsuyama overcame a dramatic back nine implosion to win the FedEx St Jude Championship with back-to-back birdies on the final two holes to claim a two stroke victory from Xander Schauffele and Viktor Hovland.
Matsuyama, who took a five-stroke lead into the fourth round at TPC Southwind, looked as though he might throw the title away when, having picked up two birdies as he left the 11th green at 19 under par, he surrendered four shots in as many holes.
Officials spoke to the 32-year-old about a potential infringement over replacing a divot on the green on an earlier hole as the Japanese golf headed to the 12th tee.
It clearly affected him as he bogeyed that hole before dropping another at the par-three 14th after finding water with his tee-shot, and he then double bogeyed the 15th to relinquish the lead.
Hideki's 5-shot lead is no more.
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) August 18, 2024
Matsuyama now trails by 1 after a double bogey on 15.
He's +4 in his last 4 holes. pic.twitter.com/BHRQCDwCCK
With things unravelling for Matsuyama, a resurgent Viktor Hovland briefly took the lead, the Norwegian rattling in five birdies in nine holes to nudge in front on 16-under. However, that was cue to drop a stroke at the next, a sloppy bunker shot resulting in a bogey at the 17th.
Hovland fell back into a three-way tie for the lead with the stuttering Matsuyama and Schauffele, whose stunning turn of form in 2024 showed no sign of abating with a blemish free closing 63.
A playoff appeared likely but Matsuyama somehow composed himself to drain a 26-footer on the 71st to re-gain the lead. Once again, emboldened he split the fairway with an unerring drive down the treacherous 18th, subsequently sinking a five-footer to seal a hard-fought win, his ninth on the PGA Tour.
He told reporters following his victory: "I'm especially happy to be able to win one of the FedEx play-off series tournaments.
"I’ve tried hard for 10 years and it’s a great feeling of satisfaction to finally be able to have done it."
Birdie-birdie finish to seal the deal!
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) August 18, 2024
@HidekiOfficial_ earns his second win of the season @FedExChamp 🏆🏆 pic.twitter.com/edkX5k5alx
World number one Scottie Scheffler was a further shot behind in fourth and fellow American Nick Dunlap, who started the day as Matsuyama's closest, yet still distant, challenger, finished in a tie for fifth with compatriot Sam Burns on 13 under.
Seamus Power posted an impressive closing round 67, recording his first top-10 finish on the PGA Tour since the RSM Classic in November 2022, but narrowly missed out on extending his run in the FedEx Cup.
Power needed a top-five finish to clamber inside the top-50 in the FedEx standings and book his spot in the BMW Championship in Denver this weekend.
The Waterfrord golfer started brightly with two birdies on his outward nine on the fifth and ninth, however he stagnated around the turn and a dropped stroke on the 14th - only his fourth bogey across the week - saw his chances recede.
While he responded well with successive birdies on the 15th and 16th to nail down a first top-10 finish of 2024, it ultimately wasn't enough to secure a tee-time for this weekend.
Shane Lowry mustered a late charge to get back under par for the tournament but had to settle for a one-over par closing round, finishing well outside the reckoning.
The 2019 Open champion was four over for his round stepping onto the 15th tee, after three bogeys on the outward nine and a double-bogey at the short 14th.
However, he answered that double with a birdie on 15 and then, for the second day running, an eagle on the par-5 16th. Lowry heads for Denver this weekend, sitting 11th in the standings.
Rory McIlroy capped a disappointing week with a second successive 74, finishing second to last in the field on nine-over par the tournament.
The three-time FedEx Cup winner began Sunday with a birdie but that was as good as it got, with two bogeys and a treble-bogey six on the par-3 14th - the latter after plunging his tee shot into the lake right of the green - condemned him another four-over par showing.
However, he sits fifth in the overall standings as the top-50 head for Castle Pines this week.
With additional reporting: PA
