MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) — Hideki Matsuyama lost his wallet in London and lost his caddie and coach for the start of the FedEx Cup playoffs from thieves who snatched their bag. None of that seemed to bother the Japanese star Thursday to start of the PGA Tour's postseason.
Chris Kirk made a hole-in-one on his way to a 6-under 64 for a one-shot lead in the FedEx St. Jude Championship. Olympic gold medalist Scottie Scheffler and double major winner Xander Schauffele , the best two players in golf, were right in the mix as expected.
The surprise in some respects was Matsuyama, the Olympic bronze medalist who has had plenty of distractions since leaving Paris and still motored around the TPC Southwind on a sweltering day for a 65. “I've forgotten it completely. It's not even an issue now,” Matsuyama said through his interpreter.
He stopped over in London with caddie Shota Hayato and his swing coach, Mikihito Kuromiya. They were having dinner in town when Matsuyama said his caddie noticed the bag was no longer there. The contents included Matsuyama's wallet, the passports of Hayato and Kuromiya.
Matsuyama had left his passport — and his bronze medal — in his hotel room. “It was an unfortunate situation,” Matsuyama said. “Luckily, I only lost my wallet, but Shota, my caddie, and the coach, lost their passports, and we’re trying hard now to get their visas back in line.
And, hopefully, we can join as a team as soon as possible.” In the meantime, he lined up Taiga Tabuc.