The identity of the man looking to halt a Dustin Johnson procession to the FedEx Cup and $10m prize is more fascinating than the fact a battle has ensued in the first place. Rory McIlroy’s third round of 66 at the Tour Championship, combined with an unforeseen late stumble by Johnson, has set up a thrilling finale on the outskirts of Atlanta.
McIlroy will claim the FedEx Cup if he wins here and Johnson finishes in a share of second or worse. Even a runners-up place for McIlroy may do for the aggregate prize if Johnson capitulates entirely over the closing 18 holes. For now, Johnson and Kevin Chappell lead the Tour Championship at eight under par with McIlroy just two adrift. The element of intrigue was provided by Johnson’s double bogey on the 17th hole of his third round, just as he was threatening to speed away from the field.
“This week it’s all about you limiting your mistakes,” McIlroy said. “I didn’t do that the first two days but I did that today. I didn’t have a bogey. You don’t need to make many birdies here to feel like you’re working your way through the field. Four birdies, no bogeys, that’s going to work around here.
“It gets me closer to what I need to do. I need to go out and play a very similar, if not better, round of golf tomorrow to have a chance. I think, first and foremost, I just need to try and win this golf tournament, and whatever happens after that happens. It would just be great to try to win the Tour Championship and if the chips fall my way then so be it.”
A Friday evening range session, in which McIlroy ironed out a swing flaw, was key to his subsequent performance.
There is a wider issue at play, of course. Discussion of the Ryder Cup, now only days away, remains prominent. McIlroy and Johnson will feature as key players on opposing teams.
On Friday, the United States captain Davis Love III insisted he was presiding over “the best golf team, maybe, ever assembled”. McIlroy wore a broad smile when answering: “I think so,” to whether or not that represents locker-room wall material for Europe.
McIlroy added: “Look, it’s a great team. They have a lot of very talented players in there. They’re obviously quite confident. So you know what, it’s up to us to go there and try to upset the odds.”
Johnson’s Saturday 69 was bettered by one by Chappell. Bubba Watson was among those to match McIlroy’s 66, the lowest of the day, to catapult himself into a share of 14th. Phil Mickelson signed for a 69, demonstrating further improvement after opening rounds of 74 and 72.
