Matsuyama overcomes bumpy back 9 to win FedEx St. Jude

No caddie. No coach. No problem for Hideki Matsuyama.

The 2021 Masters champion won the FedEx St. Jude - the PGA TOUR's playoff opener - by two strokes Sunday despite a roller-coaster back nine.

Matsuyama led by as many as five shots in the final round but momentarily fell off the top of the leaderboard after producing a 4-over par stretch from holes 12-15. However, he jarred a 26-footer for birdie on 17 to retake the solo lead.

He then stuffed his approach on 18 to set up another birdie.

Matsuyama won despite not having his usual caddie, Shota Hayafuji, and coach, Mikihito Kuromiya. The pair had their passports stolen during a stopover in London from the Paris Olympics and had to return home to Japan. Taiga Tabuchi, who usually caddies for Ryo Hisatsune, was on the bag for Matsuyama's win.

The result is Matsuyama's 10th career PGA TOUR victory.

Xander Schauffele nearly pulled off a dramatic comeback Sunday after firing a 63, tied for the day's lowest round. Reigning FedEx champion Viktor Hovland briefly held the lead late before bogeying 17.

Scheffler remains in the top spot in the FedEx Cup Playoffs and enters the BMW Championship in pole position.

Tom Kim (51), Mackenzie Hughes (52), Justin Rose (55), and Nick Taylor (58) were among the notables who finished outside the top 50 and failed to qualify for the second leg of the PGA TOUR playoffs.