FedEx Cup standings: Post-PLAYERS top ten breakdown

2. Hideki Matsuyama

1865 points, 13 events (143.46 avg.)

2 wins, 4 top 10s

Last two weeks: DNP – Wells Fargo; T22 – THE PLAYERS

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Hideki Matsuyama continues to put together an incredibly solid season, while still flying under the radar thanks to Dustin Johnson’s dominance. Granted, all four of his top-10’s (two wins, two runner-up finishes) came before the Super Bowl kicked off back in February, but that doesn’t diminish his positioning today.

With so many big tournaments still to come, Matsuyama’s focus now must go toward improving on his 2016 summer. Last year, Matsuyama missed three cuts in four starts between THE PLAYERS and the PGA Championship, earning just 28 points in more than two months. There are simply too many guys playing too well for that to be an acceptable result for a second straight season.

Matsuyama’s biggest weakness remains his putting. The 25-year-old is plenty long off the tee, and his ball-striking is pure, ranking seventh in strokes gained: tee-to-green. Unfortunately, while Matsuyama hits plenty of greens, he just isn’t consistently getting the job done. Matsuyama ranks 179^th on Tour in strokes gained: putting, and 158^th in three-putt avoidance. When you’re making pars on birdie holes this often, the difference between “very good” and “great” is clear.