Back to the Southern Illinois Salukis Newsfeed

Hideki Matsuyama wins opening leg of PGA Tour playoff

MEMPHIS, Tenn. -- Japan's Hideki Matsuyama survived a shaky back nine to shoot even-par 70 Sunday at the FedEx St. Jude Championship and win the opening leg of the PGA Tour's season-ending playoffs at TPC Southwind.

Matsuyama finished at 17-under 263, two strokes better than World No. 2 Xander Schauffele (63) and defending FedEx Cup champion Viktor Hovland of Norway (66). Matsuyama used back-to-back birdies at Nos. 17 and 18 to secure the victory.

World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler (66) finished alone in fourth at 14-under 266.

Matsuyama, bronze medalist at the Paris Olympics, carried a five-stroke lead into Sunday -- the largest 54-hole advantage of his career -- but he faltered down the stretch.