The FedEx Cup playoffs never fail to serve up plenty of drama, and the final round of the St. Jude Championship lived up to the billing in Memphis. Hideki Matsuyama survived a massive scare on the back nine to battle back for victory in a real show of resilience.
Shane Lowry and Rory McIlroy both had over-par rounds and dropped back the order on a forgettable week. They remain gainfully employed next week, however sitting comfortably within the qualification spots for the penultimate playoff at the BMW Championship. Seamus Power came up agonisingly short despite battling all week.
Power put up a spirited challenge all week and this was on show too on Sunday. He began the day in 66th spot in the FedEx standings and his three-under pushed him up ten spots but still outside the crucial top 50 spots for those heading to the BMW, next week.
He had a pair of birdies on either nine, including recovering well from bogey on the par-four 14th to go back-to-back from the next. His tie for 10th spot, will come with a decent payday, but this will be cold comfort as he finished 56th in the FedEx and outside the bubble.
Matsuyama led by five at the beginning of play and looked to be cruising home before being approached on the 12th hole by rules officials. They informed him of a possible violation, five holes previous on the 7th. Replays showed the ’21 Masters champion step on and repair a pitch mark ahead of his chip into the green.
The ruling went in Matsuyama’s way, as the pitch mark was deemed outside of his direct line, and he avoided a potential two shot penalty, but the encounter rattled the Japanese player, who was without his regular caddie this week.
Bogey followed on the 12th followed by a single-double run from the 14th. This would lead to a six-shot swing to the resurgent Viktor Hovland over four holes and saw the reigning Tour champ lead for the first time heading to the 17th. Meanwhile Xander Schauffele was on the 18th green and posting the clubhouse lead of -15, leaving him still in contention.
Hovland went on to bogey the 17th and parred home to tie Schauffele in the clubhouse with two to play for Matsuyama. A remarkable mental comeback from Hideki saw him finish birdie-birdie on two of the three most difficult holes this week saw him clinch a dramatic victory on -17 and move up to third on the rankings with two to go.
World number one Scottie Scheffler finished in solo fourth on -14 while Sam Burns and Nick Dunlap round off the top 5 one further back. Dunlap had another fine week to clinch qualification for next week and secure his spot at the big events next year. He cut it fine however, with it coming down to the 18th on Sunday, but the young man gave himself two putts to make sure.
Tom Kim had the unenviable distinction of finishing 51st on the rankings while another man whose season finished today, Jordan Spieth, will have surgery to address a niggling injury that has disrupted his year.
“I knew roughly. I was a train wreck. I’m not going to lie to you. I was arguably the most nervous I’ve ever been, to be honest,” said a refreshingly honest Dunlap coming off the final hole.
“I just didn’t want the season to end. I’ve been having so much fun, and I was just, I hit some really good shots, a good tee shot on 12, two really good ones on 16 and 17, and then got up there and smoked it on 18. However that would have shaked out, I would have been super proud of myself.”
With the top 50 settled, the FedEx Cup circus rolls into Castle Rock, Colorado and Castle Pines GC for another big one. There will be no time for players to self-congratulate as it will be straight back to business at the BMW Championship to battle for the top 30 spots and a place at the Tour Championship at East Lake.
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