WGC Bridgestone Invitational 2017: Hideki Matsuyama Earns 5th Career PGA Win

There is a new leader atop the FedEx Cup standings.

Hideki Matsuyama fired off a nine-under 61 on Sunday to finish at 16 under overall and win the 2017 Bridgestone Invitational by five strokes. Zach Johnson, who held the 54-hole lead, finished in second at 11 under.

Charley Hoffman (-10) came in third place, and Thomas Pieters (-8) finished fourth. Paul Casey and Rory McIlroy (-7) tied for fifth.

Matsuyama, 25, now has five career PGA wins. This is his first since February's Waste Management Phoenix Open and just the second of his career that did not end in a playoff.

Outside of some occasional missteps off the tee, Matsuyama had one of the most flawless rounds of golf you'll see all year. He hit 16 of 18 greens in regulation and finished with seven birdies and an eagle on the day. His 61 tied a course record set by Jose Maria Olazabal, Tiger Woods and Sergio Garcia.

"You wouldn't believe it how I warmed up this morning," Matsuyama said through an interpreter, per Steve DiMeglio of USA Today. "I was not hitting it good on the range. I did hit some good shots but I was nervous all the way around because I really wasn't sure of my swing today."

Playing in the penultimate group of the day, Matsuyama didn't waste time getting started. He holed out from 58 feet on the par-five second for an eagle and followed it up with a beautifully played drive-approach combo that left him three feet out for birdie on the third. 

After making birdies at No. 6 and No. 9, Matsuyama made the turn in the lead and went about extending it from there. A make from just inside 12 feet pushed him to 13 under on No. 13, and then he left no doubt about the result while making birdie on his final three holes. 

"Once he gets going, he just keeps the hammer down and keeps it going," McIlroy said of Matsuyama. "It's very impressive. He's played very impressively over the past 18 months, with a lot of wins and a lot of good finishes. Great player, great young player."

In a field filled with major-level competition, Matsuyama's triumph all the more impressive. Rickie Fowler (-6), Jordan Spieth (-4), Adam Scott (-4) and Dustin Johnson (-3) all finished inside the top 20, and McIlroy began the day just one stroke behind Matsuyama.

Johnson's second-place finish was his first top-two since winning the 2015 Open Championship.