FEDEX ST. JUDE CHAMPIONSHIP

August 13, 2023

Hideki Matsuyama

TPC Southwind

Quick Quotes

Q. How aware were you of the situation on the golf course as far as the top 50, and what were your emotions coming down the stretch?

HIDEKI MATSUYAMA: During the suspended play, I looked and saw what I needed to do on the final three holes. I knew I had to birdie them all.

Especially at 18, I looked up and saw I was 47th on the FedExCup list, which made that approach shot really difficult. I'm just happy that I was able to get it up-and-down.

Q. How did you gather yourself over these last holes, because you really had to play very well coming down the stretch to make it in there? How did you get your game in gear?

HIDEKI MATSUYAMA: All I knew is I had to make birdies, so I just put my head down and did the best I could.

Q. What club did you hit on 16?

HIDEKI MATSUYAMA: 6-iron.

Q. Regardless of what happens, if you go to Chicago or not, what plans do you have the rest of the year playing?

HIDEKI MATSUYAMA: It's a good question. I really need to take some time off and rest my body, get my condition back where it should be, and so I may not play a lot in the fall.

Q. Given your history of the Playoffs, what does it mean to you if you do advance?

HIDEKI MATSUYAMA: Hopefully I'll make it to Chicago and BMW. Hopefully I can get some rest before that because I've got to play better next week in order to make it to East Lake. I'm just going to give it my best shot.

Q. Coming into today outside the top 50, did you feel like you had to play more aggressively, and did you have a number in mind that you needed to shoot?

HIDEKI MATSUYAMA: The number I was hoping for before the round was 7-under, but I didn't play very good, didn't score well the front nine, which was frustrating for me. I'm just glad I was able to turn it on the last four or five holes.

Q. On a scale of 1 to 10, how would you rate the difficulty of the chip on 18, and how did you have to play it?

HIDEKI MATSUYAMA: Normally it's a 3, but under the conditions, it was an 8 or 9.