MATSUYAMA, STAND-IN CADDIE WORK A TREAT

Japanese joint-second on 65 after teamwork with Tabuchi, who replaces regular bagman

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Japanese star Hideki Matsuyama shrugged off the forced absence of his regular caddie and coach to fire a five-under 65 for a share of second place after the first round of the FedEx St Jude Championship on Aug 15.

Matsuyama, a nine-time PGA Tour winner and bronze medallist at the recent Paris Olympics, rode a hot putter at TPC Southwind in Memphis as he nailed seven birdies against two bogeys to trail leader Chris Kirk by one.

South Korea's Im Sung-jae and An Byeong-hun returned matching 69s in the first of three FedExCup play-off events, while Kim Si-woo and Tom Kim carded a 70 and 71 respectively.

World Nos. 1 and 2 Scottie Scheffler and Xander Schauffele were in a group of seven tied for fifth on 66.

Matsuyama, 32, is using stand-in bagman, Taiga Tabuchi, as his long-time caddie Shota Hayato and coach Mikihito Kuromiya had to return to Japan to sort out their travel documents after losing their passports during a stopover in London last week following the Olympics.