Back for a time at the height of Patrick Cantlay (photo), Jon Rahm did not manage to close the gap on the American after a third round rich in twists and turns.
Patrick Cantlay ended his day with a birdie of just over 7 meters as if to let his opponents know that nothing can get in his way at East Lake this week.
Not even world number 1 Jon Rahm with whom he has been sharing the last part of the Tour Championship since Friday.
On Saturday the 29-year-old American, unimpressed by his powerful opponent’s strikes, resumed his two-stroke lead which the Spaniard had reduced to one after two rounds and to nothing after three holes early in the game.
More than the mathematical advance, this last birdie from Cantlay allowed him to regain a significant psychological advantage in the duel between the two men to go and win their first victory in the FedEx Cup!
41 holes without bogey then 3 in 6 holes
On the previous 4 holes Cantlay had seen his advantage of 4 strokes acquired in the middle of the 3rd round reduced to its simplest expression due to a surprising drop in power.
On a series of 41 holes without a bogey Cantlay had in fact conceded 3 bogeys in 6 holes from 11 to 16 and seemed to be marking time. Undoubtedly the first signs of relaxation after having managed 4 birdies in 5 holes from 6 to 10 and finally outdistanced his rival.
Returning to the height of his opponent after a first birdie at 3, Jon Rahm was then too imprecise to halt Cantlay’s forward march at mid-term. At the end of his 68 of the day he could only hope to come back the next day with better weapons.
“I hope that tomorrow I can bring my ‘A-game’ and give this guy a little more trouble”, whispered Rahm.
JT the third thief
Justin Thomas, who started the Tour Championship six strokes behind due to his position in the FedEx Cup standings ahead of this closing tournament, made the best impression on Saturday. 6 birdies punctuated his impeccable 3rd round before an unfortunate three-putt at 18 spoiled everything.
Coming back to 5 blows from the head, he will first of all have to count on a slack from his compatriot to hope to join in the fight and why not win his 2nd FedEx Cup in 5 years.
DeChambeau and McIlroy in pain
Hopes that Bryson DeChambeau can no longer even entertain after seeing the gap widen irremediably on Saturday. Blame it on a game that is too rough and a more than average putting.
Penalized by a sluggish start, 3 bogeys in 4 holes, the Dallas player who was 6 strokes behind at mid-tournament is now 11 lengths from Cantlay.
Rory McIlroy is also out of the race after a sad 74, the second worst score of the day behind Harris English who may have said goodbye to his Ryder Cup wild card hopes with the 75.
Honorary titles
If Rahm does not manage to get the best of Cantlay on Sunday in Atlanta he may be able to console himself with the title of “player of the year” which he is one of the favorites with the winner of The Open Collin Morikawa.
The title of “rookie of the season” will not escape South African Erik van Rooyen, the only rookie to have reached the season finale by finishing in the top 30 of the FedEx.
Im, record in mind
Finally the last round of the season on the PGA Tour will certainly also be the occasion to see the record for the number of birdies over a season, dating from 2000 (493) and held by Steve Flesch, being exceeded by the total of South Korean Sungjae. Im.
After having tied the American mark on Saturday, Im who had 4 birdies on Thursday, 4 birdies on Friday, 2 on Saturday will only have that in mind on Sunday!
The video summary of the 4th Round
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