Hideki Matsuyama What's In The Bag

Hideki Matsuyama nearly threw away a five-shot lead but dug deep to hang on and win the FedEx St Jude Championship at TPC Southwind in Memphis.

When he stepped on to the 17th green, the Japanese golfer found himself tied with Viktor Hovland and Xander Schauffele, but he calmly holed a 27-foot putt that all but secured the title. He also picked up a cheque for $3.6m as finished with a 70 and a total of 17 under par.

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The 32-year-old 2021 Masters champion, who won the bronze medal at the Paris Olympics earlier this month, had a disastrous run starting at the 12th hole - he went bogey-par-bogey-double bogey and found himself trailing Hovland.

Hovland, the defending FedEx Cup champ, birdied 15 and 16 to trade places with Matsuyama. Hovland found himself deep in the rough at the 17th after a wayward tee shot, then had to find a way to escape a bunker. He eventually made bogey, creating a three-way tie between himself, Matsuyama and Schauffele (each at 15-under-par).

Scottie Scheffler enjoyed a steady week in Memphis. He finished 14-under. Sam Burns and Nick Dunlap tied for fifth, both at 13-under.

Matsuyama also overcame the challenge of not having his regular caddie. Last week, he and Shota Hayafuji were robbed in London while out to dinner. Hayafuji's passport was stolen, and he was not able to travel to the United States for the FedEx St Jude Championship.

Player Profile

Matsuyama was born on 25 February 1992 in Ehime, Japan. He was introduced to golf at the age of four, by his father. 

He won the 2010 Asian Amateur, which allowed him to compete at the 2011 Masters, the first Japanese amateur to do so. He was the leading amateur and won the Silver Cup. The following week he finished in a tie for third at the Japan Open.

In 2011, Matsuyama won the gold medal at the 2011 World University Games. He also led the Japan team to the gold medal in the team event. In October 2011, he also successfully defended his title at the Asian Amateur Championship. In November, Matsuyama won the Talheiyo Masters while still an amateur. In August 2012, he topped the world amateur golf rankings.

Matsuyama turned professional 2013 and won his second professional tournament, the Tsuruya Open. Five weeks later, Matsuyama won his third title, the Diamond Cup. After a top-10 finish at the US Open he entered the top 50 in the world rankings for the first time. He also won the Casio World Open and claimed the Japan Tour money list.

In 2014, Matsuyama qualified for the PGA Tour and in just seven events had six top-25 finishes, including tied sixth at The Open.

His first PGA Tour success came at the 2014 Memorial Tournament, climbing to 13th in the world rankings. In his first full season as a PGA tour member, he finished 28th in the FedEx Cup standings.

In 2016 he won the Phoenix Open, beating Rickie Fowler in a playoff, and he retained the title the following year.

On 11 April 2021, Matsuyama won The Masters, becoming both the first Japanese player and the first Asian-born player to win the tournament. He finished with an overall score of 278 (-10), one shot ahead of runner-up Will Zalatoris.

He won the Sony Open in 2022, which was his last victory until he claimed the Genesis in 2024. He had fallen to 55th in the world. It was his 250th start. He has now played in 261 tournaments, making 222 cuts, finishing second seven times, third nine times and 40 times in the top five.

His victory at the St Jude was his 10th on the PGA Tour. He began the week in eighth place in the FedEx Cup and 12th in the world rankings. His career earnings on the PGA Tour alone now exceed $53m.

He averages 292.94 yards from the tee, finds 59.58% of fairways and hits 65.94% of greens in regulation. He gets up and down from the sand 61.61% of the time, averages 28.66 putts per round, has a scoring average of 69.78 and makes 3.85 birdies per round.

Last 10 Events

FedEx St Jude Championship - 1st

Olympic Golf Men's Competition - 3rd

The 152nd Open - T66th

Genesis Scottish Open - CUT

Travelers Championship - T23rd

US Open - 6th

The Memorial Tournament - T8th

US PGA Championship - T35th

Masters Tournament - T38th

Valero Texas Open - T7th

Hideki Matsuyama WITB

Driver: Srixon ZX5 Mk II LS (9.5 Degrees)

3-Wood: TaylorMade Qi10 (15 Degrees)

5-Wood: Cobra King RadSpeed Tour (17.5 Degrees)

Irons: Srixon Z-Forged II (4-9)

Wedges: Cleveland RTX 4 Forged Prototype (48, 52, 56, 60)

Putter: Scotty Cameron Prototype

Ball: Srixon Z-Star XV