Hideki Matsuyama was not fazed by the rough conditions at all.
Two weeks ago, shortly after winning the bronze medal in Paris, he, his caddie and coach were robbed at a London airport on their way to the FedEx Cup playoffs.
Matsuyama’s caddie and coach were deported to Japan after their passports were stolen, preventing them from traveling to the FedEx St. Jude Championship.
CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM
Hideki Matsuyama of Japan prepares to putt on the ninth green during the final round of the St. Jude Championship on Aug. 18, 2024 in Memphis, Tennessee. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey)
No problem. Matsuyama won his first championship in two and a half years.
Leading by just one stroke going into the final hole, Matsuyama needed par or better to win, or a bogey would have forced a three-way playoff with Xander Schauffele and Viktor Hovland.
But after reaching the fairway on the 18th hole, he hit a fairway shot just 6 feet from the hole for a birdie and a two-stroke victory, then birdied the 17th hole to break a tie with Schauffele and last year’s FedEx Cup winner Hovland for the most points.
Matsuyama moved up from eighth to third in the FedEx Cup standings.
Matsuyama had his wallet stolen at the airport. Fortunately, no one stole his Olympic medal.
After the incident, Matsuyama said he felt “all the responsibility was on me.” It certainly didn’t seem like a heavy burden was on his shoulders.
Hideki Matsuyama tees off on the first hole during the final round of the St. Jude Championship on Aug. 18, 2024 in Memphis, Tennessee. (Chris Day/The Commercial Appeal/USA Today Network)
It wasn’t an easy finish for Matsuyama, who finished at even par (-17 for the tournament). Schauffele didn’t look like much of a chance going into the day, but the two-time major champion carded a 63 to put himself in contention for the win. But it wasn’t enough.
Nick Dunlap made par on the 72nd hole to qualify for next week’s BMW Championship, an event open to only the top 50 players in the Cup standings, but his par meant Tom Kim, currently ranked 51st, started the weekend in 43rd place.
Hovland’s second-place finish moved him up 41 places and earned him a spot in next week’s competition.
Hideki Matsuyama of Japan hits a chip shot on the seventh green during the final round of the St. Jude Championship on August 18, 2024 in Memphis, Tennessee. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey)
Click here to get the FOX News app
Scottie Scheffler leads the race by about 1,500 points.
The BMW Championship will be held at Castle Pines Golf Club in Colorado.
Follow Fox News Digital X’s sports coverage Subscribe Fox News Sports Huddle Newsletter.
