5 things from 2024 FedEx St. Jude Championship including Hideki Matsuyama in the mix despite robbery and a playoff bubble watch

There's a lot on the line in Memphis.

While many players in the field are prioritizing the quest for the hardware being doled out Sunday afternoon, there are dozens hoping to work their way — or stay put — into the top 50 of the FedEx Cup Standings and earn a berth in next week's BMW Championship — all players who make it to the second postseason event are exempt into signature events in 2025.

Chris Kirk, who entered the FedEx St. Jude Championship ranked 28th in the FedEx Cup, was on fire with his irons Thursday, posting a 6-under 64 that was highlighted by a hole-in-one — we'll get to that in a bit. Taylor Pendrith, Matthieu Pavon and Hideki Matsuyama sit at 5 under, one shot back and in a tie for second. Pendrith, who entered this week 27th in the FedEx Cup, on top of everything else, is fighting for a spot in the Presidents Cup, an event being held later this year in his home country of Canada (he's currently 13th on the International Team's points list).

If you missed any of Thursday's action, no worries, we have you covered. Here's everything you need to know from the first round of the FedEx St. Jude Championship at TPC Southwind.

FedEx St. Jude: Photos | Friday tee times

Chris Kirk was throwing darts on Day 1

Chris Kirk entered the week ranked 28th in the FedEx Cup Standings, meaning he would make it into the field for the Tour Championship in Atlanta if it started today. But after an opening-round 6-under 64, the Georgia Bulldog is projected to rise to No. 3.

Kirk got going early with birdies on Nos. 2 and 3 before adding two more on the seventh and ninth to make the turn with a 4-under 31. On the way home, Kirk made birdie at the par-4 12th and canned his tee shot on the par-3 14th for an ace, his fourth career hole-in-one on Tour.

"I'm usually around 196 or 197 with a 6-iron. Everything is going a couple yards further with the heat this week. Great number. I was looking a little further left than that with water on the right, but as soon as I hit it, I hit it just how I wanted to contact-wise, looked up, saw it started a touch right but was drawing right back to it," he said of the ace. "Yeah, nice bonus."

Kirk leaned on his iron game during the first round, ranking first in Strokes Gained: Approach.

His lone dropped shot of the day came on the last after his tee shot found a fairway bunker and he failed to get up and down from 115 yards.

Kirk has played well at TPC Southwind in the past, tying for 16th last season and for sixth in 2018.

If he were to make it to Atlanta, it'd be his first appearance at East Lake since 2014.

The bronze medalist is rolling

Hideki Matsuyama has finished inside the top 20 in his last three trips to TPC Southwind, including a runner-up effort in 2021, so you'd think it's no surprise to see him among the leaders in Memphis. However, after being robbed in a London airport, Matsuyama is playing without his regular caddie and coach.

Judging by his play, he isn't letting the inconvenience get to him.

Matsuyama bounced back quickly from a bogey at the par-5 third with a birdie on the par-3 fourth and added two more on the seventh and ninth before making the turn with a 2-under 33. After a birdie on 12, Matsuyama rattled off three straight circles on Nos. 14-16.

His momentum was halted a bit thanks to a bogey on 17, but still, an opening 5-under effort under the circumstances is impressive.

The Japanese star was eighth in the FedEx Cup entering the week, so his status for Denver was never in question. Now it's all about positioning for the Tour Championship.

Playoff bubble watch

Here's a look at the projected last five in and first five out after Day 1 in Memphis.

46. Matt Fitzpatrick (Even, T-43)

47. Will Zalatoris (1 under, T-28)

48. Cam Davis (Even, T-43)

49. Alex Noren (3 over, 68th)

50. Adam Scott (Even, T-43)

51. Tom Kim (1 under, T-58)

52. Brendon Todd (4 under, T-5)

53. Mackenzie Hughes (Even, T-43)

54. Max Greyserman (5 over, 70th)

55. Patrick Rodgers (1 under, T-28)

Checking in with some notable names

Let's take a look at where several big names stand after the opening round and where they're projected to be in the FedEx Cup Standings.

Scottie Scheffler: 4 under, T-5

Xander Schauffele: 4 under, T-5

Justin Thomas: 3 under, T-12

Wyndham Clark: 2 under, T-18

Rory McIlroy: 2 under, T-18

Collin Morikawa: 2 under, T-18

Jordan Spieth: 2 under, T-18

Will Zalatoris: 1 under, T-28

Max Homa: 1 under, T-28

Viktor Hovland: Even, T-43

Tom Kim: 1 over, T-58

Shot of the day

Kirk made a hole-in-one on the par-3 14th Thursday, his fourth career ace on the PGA Tour and first since the 2021 World Wide Technology Championship. This shot got him to 7 under for the day.

This article originally appeared on Golfweek: 5 things from 2024 FedEx St. Jude Championship including Hideki Matsuyama in the mix despite robbery and a playoff bubble watch