Hideki Matsuyama felt his lower back starting to act up Saturday. On a whim, he decided to put a new putter in his bag for the start of the PGA Tour postseason. And now the Japanese star has a five-shot lead going into the final round of the FedEx St. Jude Championship.

“I am surprised,” Matsuyama said through his interpreter, breaking into a big smile when he added, “but I did play well today.”

He played well enough for a second straight 6-under 64 that enabled him to pull away from a crowded field and put plenty of distance between him and Nick Dunlap.

Matsuyama quickly atoned for an early bogey by drilling a 3-wood over the water to 15 feet and making the eagle putt. He kept adding birdies the rest of the day in more steamy weather and no one could stay with him.

Denny McCarthy, who was tied for the 36-hole lead with Matsuyama, put four bogeys on his card before registering his first birdie. Sam Burns had only five pars — and a broken driver — in his round of 70 to fall back. Scottie Scheffler lost ground with a few suspect chips and was seven shots behind after a 69.

Rahm with a 62 takes 2-shot lead in LIV Golf event

Jon Rahm finished eagle-birdie-birdie for an 8-under 62, giving the Spaniard a two-shot lead over Brooks Koepka and three others in LIV Golf Greenbrier.

The Old White course at the West Virginia resort was as vulnerable as ever — only six players in the 54-man field were over par through two rounds — and it led to a bunched leaderboard.

Rahm, coming off an Olympic disappointment when he went from a four-shot lead to not even getting to the podium, was at 14-under 126.

Koepka had a 64 and was in the group at 128 with Talor Gooch (66), 51-year-old Richard Bland (64) and Lucas Herbert (63).

Coughlin birdies for 66 to lead Women’s Scottish Open

Lauren Coughlin rolled in a bending, 20-foot putt as part of three birdies on the closing stretch to cap off a 6-under 66 in the Women’s Scottish Open and give her a one-shot lead over Megan Khang at Dundonald Links.

Coughlin picked up her first LPGA Tour title three weeks ago and put herself in position to lock up a spot on the U.S. Solheim Cup team.