Denny McCarthy shares lead with Hideki Matsuyama at St Jude Championship
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Denny McCarthy of the United States plays a shot on the first hole during the second round of the St. Jude Championship at TPC Southwind on Aug 16, 2024.
PHOTO: AFP
MEMPHIS – Despite struggling with a hip injury, Denny McCarthy still found a way to share the lead with Japan’s Hideki Matsuyama on 11-under 129 after the second round of the PGA Tour’s St Jude Championship on Aug 16.
The American posted a fine seven-under 63 while Matsuyama shot a 64 to head into the weekend on top of the leaderboard at the first FedExCup play-off event.
The 31-year-old McCarthy, who has yet to win on the PGA Tour, got off to a good start with four birdies in his opening six holes, before a bogey on the par-four seventh.
He recovered with a birdie on the par-three eighth and showed the same resilience when he bogeyed the 12th by immediately birdying the next hole.
“It was a really good round. I did everything pretty well. I putted well. I hit a lot of good iron shots. Bounced back nicely after a couple of the bogeys I had. Everything felt really solid today,” he said.
McCarthy’s performance was even more impressive given the hip trouble he has been coping with at Memphis’ TPC Southwind.
“I don’t want to divulge too much. It’s bothering me, but I’ve been able to do enough the last few days to push through it. The heat really helps it. It really loosens it up,” he added.
“But I’ve had to spend a lot of time post-round, pre-round getting it loose, getting it ready to go to play a full round.”
Matsuyama started with a birdie on the par-four first hole but then missed a short birdie putt on the second and bogeyed the par-three fourth after driving into the water.
From then on though, the 2021 Masters champion was in control, bogey-free and making five more birdies.
The Japanese is looking for his 10th win on the PGA Tour and his second of this season, following his victory at the Genesis Invitational in Los Angeles in February.
American Sam Burns was a stroke behind the leading pair after carding a 63 with an eagle on the par-five third hole.
Scottie Scheffler, fresh from his Olympic gold in Paris, leads the FedExCup play-off standings and is in contention yet again with his solid bogey-free 65 putting him on nine under, two off the leaders.
“I did a good job of having some nice up-and-downs to kind of keep the momentum going,” the world No. 1 and reigning Masters champion said.
“I holed a nice putt for par early in the round on 5 and then I had a couple nice chips after that getting it close to the hole, making what could have been a stressful par into a pretty stress-free par with some nice pitches. Overall, it was a pretty good day.”
England’s Justin Rose was a stroke behind Scheffler after a second straight round of 66. He ended off in style with birdies on the 16th and 17th and he sits level in fifth place with American Nick Dunlap (65).
It was a disappointing day for Rory McIlroy, fifth in the FedExCup standings, who shot a three-over 73 after making a double bogey on the par-five third, where he drove into the water.
The Northern Irishman is tied for 58th place on 141. AFP
