Leishman routs field at BMW Championship
LAKE FOREST, Ill. — Given another opportunity to win, Marc Leishman didn’t give anyone much of a chance in the BMW Championship.
Staked to a five-shot lead, Leishman made back-to-back birdies late in the final round Sunday to put away the final challenge, then closed with a birdie for a 4-under 67 to set the tournament record and win by five over Justin Rose and Rickie Fowler.
It was Leishman’s second victory this year and it sends him to East Lake as the No. 4 seed in the FedEx Cup, giving him a clear shot at the $10-million prize. Leishman finished at 23-under 261, breaking the 72-hole tournament record that Tiger Woods set at Cog Hill in 2007.
The timing could not have been better for the 33-year-old Australian. In his last event two weeks ago, he lost a two-shot lead on the back nine at TPC Boston.
“I had a few scars from a few weeks ago,” Leishman said. “I was just really, really determined to not let that happen again. Got it done.”
Rose was the only player who got within two shots of the lead, only for Leishman to answer with a 30-foot birdie putt on the 15th hole and a 10-footer for birdie on the 16th. Rose closed with a 65. Fowler made a late run when he was too far back and he needed one more birdie on the 18th to grab the No. 5 seed for the FedEx Cup finale next week at the Tour Championship. However, Jon Rahm birdied four of his last five holes for a 67 and will be the No. 5 seed instead.
Abbotsford’s Adam Hadwin was the top Canadian, tied for 40th at 7-under, while Mackenzie Hughes of Dundas, Ont., tied for 44th at 6-under.