Nearly makes it three straight playoff wins Hovland closed with a four-under 66 on Sunday to finish in a tie for second place at the FedEx St. Jude Championship. Impact Hovland hasn't had the season he has wanted to this point, but again he turned it up in the opening playoff event to finish in a share of second and go from 57th to 16th in the FedExCup standings. Hovland will actually probably be a little disappointed, however, considering he briefly held the outright lead at 16-under following back-to-back birdies on 15 and 16. He then made bogey at 17 and then missed a short putt for birdie on 18 while Matsuyama bounced back with birdies at 17 and 18 to take a two-shot win. Hovland ranked fifth in SG: Off-the-Tee and fourth in SG: Approach for the week. That has to be encouraging going to the BMW Championship next week where he will try to repeat, albeit at a different golf course this year.
AUGUST 18 • ROTOWIRE