Denny McCarthy made 160 feet of putts on his way to a 7-under-par 63 that rocketed him into a tie for the second-round lead with Hideki Matsuyama of Japan at the FedEx St. Jude Championship on Friday in Memphis, Tenn.
In the first leg of the FedEx Cup playoffs at TPC Southwind, McCarthy and Matsuyama (64) stand at 11-under 129, one stroke ahead of Sam Burns (63) and two in front of World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler (65). Englishman Justin Rose carded a second straight 66 to sit in a tie for fifth at 8 under with Nick Dunlap (65).
McCarthy is known as one of the best putters on tour, but so far that has not translated into any victories. He could become the third player to make a playoff event his maiden PGA Tour title, following Camilo Villegas (2008) and Will Zalatoris (2022).
McCarthy’s highlight birdie putts included a 26-footer for birdie at the par-3 fourth hole; a 28 1/2-footer at the par-3 eighth; and a 32-footer at the par-4 13th.
“Listen, I’ve missed a couple of short ones, too. I think these greens are really tricky in close,” McCarthy said. “They’re really subtle with the grain, hard to find the slope. … So I’ve missed a couple ones I’d like to have back, but they probably all even out with some of the longer ones I make.
“I’m just trying to put, like I said, the same amount of intention and focus on each putt, whether it’s short or long, trying to make it but not trying to ram it 8 feet by.”
McCarthy has been dealing with a labrum injury in his hip.
“It’s bothering me, and I’ve been able to do enough the last few days to push through it,” he said. “Like I said, the heat helps it.”
Matsuyama, who carded seven birdies and one bogey Friday, is also a man dealing with some adversity.
He shares the lead despite his usual caddie and his coach being unable to make the trip to the States. The three were robbed in London before they were set to fly to Memphis, and both his caddie and his coach had their passports stolen.
Matsuyama entered the week No. 8 in the FedEx Cup standings. As things currently sit, he’s projected to jump to third place.
“I like the system, especially where I am at,” Matsuyama said. “It’s a little bit — I don’t know if unfair is the right word, but (Scheffler) deserves to be much further ahead than just two strokes there at the TOUR Championship. With that in mind, it’s tough for him, I think. But for me, I’m enjoying it.”
Burns matched McCarthy and Norway’s Viktor Hovland (7 under, tied for seventh) for the round of the day with his 63. He went birdie-eagle-birdie at Nos. 2-4 on his way to shooting 6-under 29 on the front nine.
“I hit a wedge in there close on 2, hit a good drive on 3 and hit a really good 5-iron close,” Burns said. “Really just was giving myself good looks. Made one from off the green on 6. Other than that, just hit some good shots and was able to make some putts.”
Scheffler’s bogey-free round was looking pedestrian until he rolled in three birdies in a row at Nos. 15-17. The final putt on No. 17 was from nearly 23 feet away.
“I think you’ve got to be playing some really great golf to shoot a low score” at TPC Southwind, Scheffler said. “There’s opportunity out there. The greens aren’t super firm. You can attack when you’re in the fairway. But there’s a good amount of water on the course.”
There are no 36-hole cuts during the playoffs. Among other notables, Xander Schauffele shot a 69 Friday and is tied for 13th at 5 under; Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland struggled to a 73 and is 1 over; and Jordan Spieth followed an encouraging first-round 68 with a 75 that dropped him to 3 over, in a tie for 65th.
–Field Level Media
