Hideki Matsuyama surged ahead of the competition on Saturday during the FedEx St. Jude Championship with a 6-under 64, securing a five-shot lead over Nick Dunlap. Matsuyama swiftly rebounded from an early bogey by sinking an eagle putt from 15 feet after hitting a precise 3-wood shot over the water. Throughout the day, Matsuyama continued to rack up birdies in hot weather conditions, distancing himself from the rest of the field.
Denny McCarthy, previously tied with Matsuyama for the lead after 36 holes, struggled with four bogeys before securing his first birdie. Sam Burns faced challenges as well, including a broken driver and recording only five pars during his round of 70, causing him to fall back. Scottie Scheffler also encountered difficulties due to some questionable chips, finding himself seven shots behind Matsuyama following a 69.
Matsuyama’s total score was 17-under 193, positioning him well to potentially clinch his first FedEx Cup playoff event victory. However, the focus of the tournament extended beyond the current leader, as the top 50 players will advance to the BMW Championship next week near Denver, ensuring their participation in all major events worth $20 million next year.
Viktor Hovland made progress towards securing his spot with a 66 placing him in third, trailing Matsuyama by six shots. Jordan Spieth faced disappointment as his season effectively concluded after recording two double bogeys during a round of 74, leaving him in 69th place among the 70-man field.
Starting the postseason at No. 49, Will Zalatoris shot 67 to tie for sixth place, almost guaranteeing his position within the top 50. Players like Justin Rose and Adam Scott were teetering on the edge of advancing to the next stage. Rose, currently ranked 55th in the FedEx Cup standings, is tied for ninth after three rounds at TPC Southwind but dropped crucial shots with a double bogey on the last hole. On the other hand, Scott, at No. 46, shot 68 and was predicted to remain inside the top 50 going into the final day of competition.