ATLANTA, (Reuters) – American Jim Furyk held his nerve over a shaky closing stretch to win the Tour Championship by one shot at East Lake Golf Club yesterday, along with FedExCup honours and the $10 million bonus.
Three strokes ahead with three holes to play in the PGA Tour’s final playoff event of the season, Furyk bogeyed 16 and 17 before coolly parring the last to clinch his third title of the year.
The world number six got up and down from a greenside bunker at the par-three 18th, sinking a two-and-half foot putt for par before hurling his ball into the stands in relief.
Furyk, who had never previously won three tournaments in a single PGA Tour season, signed off with a level-par 70 in wet conditions for an eight-under total of 272. “This is a special moment and a special year,” Furyk said in a television interview. “I’ve never had a three-win season before, and (the FedExCup) is the icing on the cake.”
Britain’s Luke Donald, who briefly shared the lead with Furyk early in the final round, closed with a matching 70 to finish alone in second.
South African Retief Goosen, champion here in 2004, carded a 71 for third place at six under, a stroke better than Britain’s Paul Casey (69) and American Nick Watney (67).
Furyk began the final round a stroke ahead but surrendered the outright lead with a bogey at the opening hole, lipping out from 10 feet to record his first three-putt of the week.
Goosen, playing with Furyk in the final pairing, also bogeyed the par-four first after finding the right rough off the tee and a greenside bunker with his approach.
IMMEDIATE
RECOVERY
However the South African immediately recovered by sinking a curling 26-footer for birdie at the par-three second to join Furyk and Donald in a three-way tie for the lead.
Donald, seeking his first PGA Tour victory since the 2006 Honda Classic, dropped back to six under after bogeying the par-four fourth where a wayward drive ended up behind a tree.
Goosen also faltered at the par-four fifth, a three-putt bogey there handing Furyk a one-shot lead.
Furyk then rammed in a 27-foot birdie putt at the par-three sixth to double his advantage.
Moments later, though, Watney chipped in from the front of the green to eagle the par-five ninth and reach the turn in a sizzling five-under 30 at seven under overall.
Play was suspended for just under two hours because of the threat of lightning before the action resumed and Furyk regained a two-shot cushion with a 14-foot birdie putt at the 11th.
He picked up his third shot of the day at the par-five 15th, reaching the green in two and two-putting, and appeared to have the title firmly in his grasp.
However Furyk bogeyed 16, after pushing his second shot into the right rough, and 17, after leaving his approach well short of the green, to set up a dramatic finish.