Japan's Hideki Matsuyama survived a shaky back nine to shoot even-par 70 on Sunday at the St Jude Championship and win the opening leg of the PGA Tour's season-ending play-offs at TPC Southwind.

Matsuyama finished at 17-under 263, two strokes better than world number two Xander Schauffele (63) and defending Tour champion Viktor Hovland of Norway (66). Matsuyama used back-to-back birdies at holes 17 and 18 to secure the victory.

World number one Scottie Scheffler (66) finished alone in fourth at 14-under 266.

Matsuyama, the bronze medallist at the Paris Olympics, carried a five-stroke lead into Sunday — the largest 54-hole advantage of his career — but he faltered down the stretch. After playing his first 11 holes at 2 under, he came unravelled. He endured a bogey-par-bogey-double bogey stretch from holes 12-15 to allow Schauffele and Hovland to briefly pass him.

But Matsuyama recovered with a clutch 26-foot birdie putt on 17 and a 6-footer at 18, the toughest hole on the course.

Hovland had back-to-back birdies at 15 and 16 to get to 16 under par and surpass Matsuyama, who enjoyed a five-stroke lead at the turn.

Schauffele was at 8 under — nine strokes behind Matsuyama — to begin the round. He made a charge with a bogey-free round and nearly chipped in off the green on 18 to make the final hole tougher for Matsuyama. Schauffele's chip from 75 feet struck the flag.

Matsuyama earned the 10th PGA Tour title of his career. It came after a pre-tournament robbery in London that left him without his caddie and coach, who lost their passports in the robbery and had to return to Japan. Matsuyama was forced to use a substitute caddie.

Adam Scott was the best placed of the four Australians, finishing in a tie for 18th.

Min Woo Lee and Jason Day both finished in a tie for 22nd, while Cam Davis finished tied 40th.

The opening tournament of the season-ending play-offs featured the top 70 in the PGA Tour points standings. The top 50 in the standings advance to the next round at Castle Pines Golf Club in Colorado.

Scott, Day and Davis are all in the top 50, with Min Woo Lee not making the cut despite a strong showing this week.

The Tour Championship will be played the week after at East Lake Golf Club in Atlanta.

Those who finished Sunday ranked in the top 50 not only move on to Colorado but are eligible for each of the eight PGA Tour signature event in 2025.

Reuters