FEDEX ST. JUDE CHAMPIONSHIP

August 17, 2024

Hideki Matsuyama

TPC Southwind

Quick Quotes

Q. Are you surprised to be leading by this much?

HIDEKI MATSUYAMA: I am surprised, but I did play well today.

Q. What did you do so well? Do you have a new putter this week?

HIDEKI MATSUYAMA: I did put a new putter in the bag, and it's been behaving very well.

Q. Why did you put a new putter in the bag, and did you pay for it?

HIDEKI MATSUYAMA: I've had the putter for a while, and I thought, well, it might be a good week to debut that putter. But I might change putters tonight even.

Q. What kind of putter?

HIDEKI MATSUYAMA: It's a Scotty Cameron. I don't know the model, though.

Q. How would you say you've been playing better the last few weeks?

HIDEKI MATSUYAMA: You know, I have been healthy. I don't know if that has anything to do with the results. Again, hopefully tomorrow we can just carry on and do the same.

Q. Was your back feeling okay at the start of the week?

HIDEKI MATSUYAMA: We have good days and bad days, but today I played well, and again, hopefully that will carry over to tomorrow.

Q. Does the heat help?

HIDEKI MATSUYAMA: Very much so.

Q. How much harder is the golf course playing as it dries out and the wind picks up?

HIDEKI MATSUYAMA: You're absolutely right. The course does play more difficult, especially in the wind like today. It is drying out. Not sure what the condition is going to be tomorrow, but hopefully I can prepare well for it and do the same.

Q. What have you done differently this week with the different caddie, or is it just business as usual?

HIDEKI MATSUYAMA: Yeah, I do have a new caddie. There's a learning curve when you have a new caddie and trying to work things out together. But it hasn't really affected my play. We're a good team right now.

Q. What did you hit into 16?

HIDEKI MATSUYAMA: 3-wood.

Q. Can you describe in great detail the third hole?

HIDEKI MATSUYAMA: I hit a good drive in the fairway, 255 to the pin, 3-wood to 15 feet and made it.

Q. After your lone bogey today on 2, how important was it for momentum that you birdied 3?

HIDEKI MATSUYAMA: It was very important. Got the momentum back and then carried on with the round. That was big.

Q. Whose card did you keep?

HIDEKI MATSUYAMA: Sam.

Q. Was that difficult to keep track?

HIDEKI MATSUYAMA: Why?

Q. He only had five pars, I think.

HIDEKI MATSUYAMA: I didn't even think about it.