Hideki Matsuyama tees off on the third hole during the first round of the 150th Open Championship golf tournament at St. Andrews Old Course. Michael Madrid-USA TODAY Sports

Hideki Matsuyama withdraws from St. Jude Championship

By Chelena Goldman | Last updated 8/10/22

It's not easy to make it to the playoffs and then withdraw due to injury. But that's what PGA pro Hideki Matsuyama had to do this week when he withdrew from the FedEx St. Jude Championship due to a neck injury.

Matsuyama, ranked No. 11 in the world, announced his withdrawal from the FedEx Cup Playoffs opener on Wednesday, roughly a day before the event tees off. The nine-year pro said in a statement that his hope is to be back to full health for the next two legs of the playoffs.

Hideki Matsuyama is a WD from the FedEx St. Jude Championship with a neck injury.

Statement from Matsuyama: pic.twitter.com/UjGjOETof3
— PGA TOUR Communications (@PGATOURComms) August 10, 2022

Matsuyama is still in a good position to compete in the BMW Championship, which starts on August 18 even though he withdrew from the St. Jude Championship. However, his health throughout the season brings into question whether that will be the case. The 30-year-old has withdrawn from three other events over the course of the season due to injuries, most recently the 3M Open on July 24.

Matsuyama has two PGA Tour wins on the season, most recently the Sony Open in Hawaii on January 16. He also tied for third place at the AT&T Byron Nelson and placed fourth at the U.S. Open.

Should Matsuyama be able to play in the BMW Championship, he will be part of a heavily trimmed-down field of competition. The BMW Championship will feature just the top 70 golfers in the FedEx standings, while the season-ending Tour Championship will only feature the top 30.

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