By Joel Beall
Hideki Matsuyama has withdrawn from the FedEx St Jude Championship on Wednesday. The 2021 Masters champ cited a neck injury as the reason for the WD.
“I am very disappointed to have to withdraw,” Matsuyama said in a statement, “but I felt it was the best decision to ensure my neck receives the treatment it needs for me to compete in the BMW Championship and the Tour Championship.”
Matsuyama, 30, entered the first week of the tour’s FedEx Cup 11th in the playoff standings thanks to early-season wins at the Zozo Championship and Sony Open and six top-10 finishes.
However, Matsuyama has dealt with a number of injuries in 2022. He withdrew from the Valero Texas Open after Round 1 with a similar neck complaint, and had to pull out of the Players Championship with a back issue. In his last appearance Matsuyama also departed mid-tournament following an opening-round 77 — which included hitting three balls in the water en route to a 9 at TPC Twin Cities’ 18th hole — at the 3M Open, this time indicating his wrist was injured. Matsuyama was also disqualified from the Memorial for using a non-conforming club.
Because it is the post-season there are no alternates. With Matsuyama out the field is down to 120 players.
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