ENCORE FOR RAHM vs DUSTIN A BIT SPECIAL
THE duel between Spaniard Jon Rahm and American Dustin Johnson on Sunday night was so stupendous it seems only fitting they should have an encore this week with the FedEx Cup finale and the not-so-small matter of a $15million bonus. Rahm thought he had won the BMW Championship in Chicago in regulation play, only for Johnson to hole a 45ft birdie putt at the 18th to force extra-time. Rahm then drained an even more improbable putt from 66ft on the same green to win at the first extra hole. And so we have world No 1 Johnson and No 2 Rahm on top of the pile going into the final event beginning on Friday at beautiful East Lake, Atlanta. Johnson starts with a twoshot advantage to reflect his superior play over the first two play-off events (he has finished first and second), while world No 3 Justin Thomas will begin in third, three shots behind. Such is the form of the top two, it is hard to think anyone outside this trio will get a look-in. It would be hard enough with a level playing field, let alone giving them shots. Defending champion Rory McIlroy, if he plays, will start seven behind. Tyrrell Hatton, the only other UK player to finish in the top 30 who qualified, will begin eight back. He will start, though, with a little spring in his step, and not just for making it to East Lake for the first time, with its many privileges including eligibility for the majors next year, plus a guaranteed six-figure pay day. Of the ten Englishmen in the top 60 of the world rankings, he is the leader of the pack for the first time.