Chris Kirk took the spotlight on Thursday with an incredible hole-in-one, leading the FedEx St. Jude Championship with a 6-under 64. Kirk’s ace on the 12th hole secured him the lead by just one stroke. As expected, Olympic gold medalist Scottie Scheffler and two-time major winner Xander Schauffele are close behind.
Hideki Matsuyama, despite some off-course struggles, finished just one shot behind Chris Kirk with a 65. Matsuyama’s journey to the PGA Tour playoffs wasn’t easy. He lost his wallet, and his caddie and coach lost their passports during a stopover in London. But these challenges didn’t faze the Japanese star as he showed his resilience at TPC Southwind on a scorching day.
Matsuyama, the Olympic bronze medalist, brushed off his troubles, saying through his interpreter, “I’ve forgotten it completely. It’s not even an issue now.” Despite the theft, which occurred during dinner in London, Matsuyama focused on his game. Fortunately, his passport and bronze medal were safe in his hotel room.
To replace his caddie, Shota Hayato, Matsuyama brought in Taiga Tabuchi, who had recently caddied on the Japan LPGA. The new partnership worked well. Matsuyama rebounded from an early bogey by stringing together four birdies in a five-hole stretch on the back nine.
“My job is the same. It’s just play golf,” Matsuyama said. He stays in touch with his coach every night by phone, and he praised his new caddie’s performance, saying, “Taiga did a great job today.”
Chris Kirk, currently No. 28 in the FedEx Cup standings, is fighting to secure a spot in the BMW Championship. The top 50 players will advance after this week, and Chris Kirk’s performance, highlighted by his ace, has put him in a strong position.
Chris Kirk described his shot on the 12th hole, “I was looking a little further left than that with water on the right, but as soon as I hit it, I hit it just how I wanted to. Although Chris Kirk missed a few opportunities, his round was nearly flawless, with just one bogey. The nice bonus added to his performance.
Taylor Pendrith of Canada and Matthieu Pavon of France, both first-time PGA Tour winners this year, joined Matsuyama at 65. Scheffler and Schauffele, who have dominated the season with multiple major wins and over $44 million in earnings, are among a large group at 66.
Schauffele started strong with three straight birdies, cooling off slightly but finishing with a bogey-free round. Scheffler had four birdies through six holes, with a single bogey on the 12th.
Both players share a close friendship, having bonded during practice rounds and money games at Le Golf National before the Olympics. Scheffler said, “It’s fun competing with friends, but we also want to outdo each other. Playing with the best and competing is a lot of fun.”
Justin Rose (No. 55) and Ben Griffin (No. 56) are also in the mix, each aiming for a spot in the top 50. They’re both part of the group at 66. Jordan Spieth, currently No. 63, opened with a 62, despite two bogeys on the back nine that slowed his momentum.
As the FedEx Cup playoffs heat up, all eyes are on Chris Kirk and Matsuyama, who are proving that perseverance and skill can overcome any obstacle.
