All this activity was far more compelling than the actual tournament, for Johnson never looked as though he was going to lose – no matter how well Casey played.
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Known for so many years as the guy who couldn’t catch a break in the biggest events, he won for the third time in eight starts dating to his first major at the U.S. Open.
The 2013 Masters champ has already finished in the top-five in the first two FedEx Cup playoffs and can do likewise at Crooked Stick.
Reigning US Open champion Johnson sank a 17-foot birdie putt at the 18th hole to complete a four-under par 68 and stand on 18-under 198 for 54 holes at the 7,516-yard Crooked Stick layout in suburban Indianapolis. But he carded a pair of frustrating bogeys, including a miss from seven feet on No. 18, to end his day at four under.
“I’m not going to change anything”, he said. And he still matched Johnson’s score, even though he didn’t make up any ground.
“I feel I’ve got a good game plan out here, be aggressive on flags when I feel like I’ve got a good club and a good number and other times there are a few holes you just want to make par on and keep going”.
Although the focus for many will be on the back injury that forced Day out of the BMW Championship today, Scott moved past his fellow Queenslander with, remarkably, his third consecutive fourth-place finish in as many weeks.
Johnson seeks his third title of the year after the US Open and the World Golf Championships-Bridgestone invitational.
Day withdrew from the event Sunday after aggravating a pinched lower left joint capsule reaching for a tee at the ninth hole, but was still able to finish among the five season points leaders. “He has got the best attitude in golf”.
It happened on the 69th hole of the BMW Championship after Paul Casey had cut Johnson’s lead to one stroke with an eagle.
Matt Kuchar closed with a 71 and tied for fourth, along with Ryan Palmer (70), Adam Scott (71), Schwartzel and Holmes. He is now third in the FedEx Cup standings.
Regardless of result, both Day and Scott are through to the 30-man Tour Championship where someone will earn the season’s FedEx Cup and US$10 million bonus.
The results puts the American closer to Day in the world rankings ahead of the season ending Tour Championship, and sends him to the top of the season long FedExCup points list.
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Perhaps, just as important, is the fact he now leads the FedEx Cup with just the Tour Championship to play.
