FedEx Cup No. 3 in standings sidelined by lower back injury

Hideki Matsuyama has officially withdrawn from the 2024 BMW Championship, citing a lower back injury. After starting the tournament strong with a 5-under 67, Matsuyama found himself just one stroke behind leader Keegan Bradley. As he entered the competition ranked No. 3 in the FedEx Cup standings, he had aspirations of moving up the ranks. However, with his withdrawal, he now risks slipping down the leaderboard ahead of the upcoming season finale at the Tour Championship.

Matsuyama arrived in Colorado buoyed by momentum from his recent successes. Just days before, he celebrated his second victory of the season, triumphing at the St. Jude Championship, which marked his first win in the FedEx Cup Playoffs. His impressive performance at that event included fending off challenges from Xander Schauffele and Viktor Hovland, elevating him to the highest ranking of his career at this stage in the FedEx Cup.

By withdrawing this week, Matsuyama will receive no FedEx Cup points, putting him at risk of losing his position. Players like Collin Morikawa, Rory McIlroy, Wyndham Clark, Ludvig Åberg, Sahith Theegala, Patrick Cantlay, and Sungjae Im are all within 2,000 points of Matsuyama. If any of them were to win, they could easily overtake him in the standings.

Although Matsuyama has demonstrated exceptional skill this season—highlighted by not only his victory in Memphis but also a remarkable six-stroke come-from-behind win at the Genesis Invitational in February—he has struggled with injuries. His difficulties began earlier this season when he withdrew from the Wells Fargo Championship just before his scheduled Round 1 tee time. His exit from the BMW Championship signifies his second consecutive withdrawal from this tournament and marks the seventh time he has had to pull out since the onset of the 2021 season.

This latest injury is a disappointing turn for Matsuyama, who has been working hard to maintain his performance amidst the competitive pressures of the PGA Tour. His record at the FedEx Cup playoffs was shaping up to be a key highlight of his season, but the back injury puts a damper on his aspirations. As he prepares for the Tour Championship, the focus will now shift to his recovery, with hopes that he can return to form in the future.