The leader bogeyed the 11th hole. He missed the green on the 220-yard par-3, then couldn’t get up and down when he missed a 6-foot putt for par. Doubt. The leader birdied the next hole. He birdied the 14th hole. He birdied the 18th. He made clutch par putts on the others. No doubt. Here are three things you should know after Sunday’s third round at the Tour Championship at East Lake Golf Club in Atlanta, the final event in the FedEx Cup playoffs.
Dustin Johnson leads
Dustin Johnson’s driver was in question, too, after Saturday’s second round. He hit two of 14 fairways on his way to a one-stroke lead. During Sunday’s third round, he hit 11 of 14 fairways. One day. Nine more fairways. No questions.
Johnson birdied three holes on the front nine and three holes on the back nine for a 5-under 65, a 19-under total and a five-stroke lead over Xander Schauffele and Justin Thomas.
“Obviously today was much different off the tee,” Johnson said. “Hit a lot more fairways, and then the couple fairways I missed were just off. Yeah, I know it was what I needed to do, to play here well, is just hit it in the fairway. I definitely hit a lot more fairways today.”
Xander Schauffele and Justin Thomas tied for second
Schauffele’s play at East Lake has never been in question.
He’s played 15 rounds. His worst score is even-par 70. His average score is just over 67, which he was just under on Sunday after a 3-over 67. He birdied four holes, including the 18th, and is at 14-under with Thomas.
“It’s tough,” Schauffele said of East Lake. “You kind of have to do everything really well. I think that’s why I like it. It’s really fair. It’s right in front of you. I don’t know why I play well here.
“I mean, I think some statisticians could tell you, but certain holes fit my eye and I just enjoy being out here, so it’s lucky for me.”
Thomas was one stroke better than Schauffele on Sunday. He made five birdies and an eagle – but three bogeys – for a 4-under 66. Only two other players are within seven shots. Jon Rahm is six back after a 4-under 66, and Collin Morikawa is seven back after a 3-under 67.
Sungjae Im struggles
Sungjae Im started the day one shot behind Johnson. He ended it with Sunday’s third-worst round.
Im bogeyed the 3rd, 4th and 5th holes, recovered with a birdie on the 6th and played even-par from there for a 2-over 72. He’s at 10-under with Daniel Berger.
