Johnson lands Fedex Cup
Holds on down stretch to claim $15M top prize
ATLANTA — For Dustin Johnson, Monday was a justenough kind of day.
He hit just enough fairways. And when his lead began to shrink, he made just enough crucial putts.
So just enough was just perfect.
Johnson finally won the Fedex Cup, holding his nerve and tapping in for birdie on the last hole for a 2-under 68, giving him a three-shot victory over Justin Thomas and Xander Schauffele in the Tour Championship.
“This is a tough golf course. No lead is safe,” Johnson said of the East
Lake Golf Club layout. “The guys gave me a good fight today.”
Johnson won the $15 million prize, the biggest in golf. Equally important was getting his named etched on that silver Fedex Cup trophy alongside some of the best from his generation, starting with Tiger Woods and most recently Rory Mcilroy.
“It’s definitely very satisfying to be the Fedex Cup champion,” Johnson said.
Of course, he was elated to win such a prestigious event. He said he was nervous about the final round, but overall “I played pretty solidly all week … I played really well down the stretch.
“I’m definitely excited it’s over and I can celebrate a little bit.”
He became the first No. 1 seed at the Tour Championship to win the Fedex Cup since Tiger Woods in 2009.
Johnson was staked to a five-shot lead at 19-under par — 9 under on his own
score and starting the tournament at 10 under as the No. 1 seed in the Fedex Cup. He finished at 21 under. Schauffele, who tends to bring his best to big moments, and Thomas each got within three shots on the front nine. They both closed to within two shots deep on the back nine at East Lake.
Johnson gave the lightest fist pump — that’s big emotion for him — when he holed a 20-foot par putt on the 13th hole that kept his lead at three. He made nothing but pars on the back nine until the outcome was no longer in doubt.
Thomas made bogey from a wild tee shot to the right on the 17th. Schauffele also had to scramble on the 17th, escaping with par after a tee shot into the bunker. And on the par-5 18th, Johnson un
leashed a drive that started left along the pine trees and faded gently toward the middle of the fairway.
That set up a birdie from the front bunker, a hug with brother Austin, his caddie, and a trophy he long wanted.
Schauffele had the lowest score over 72 holes at 15-under 265, but without a victory this year, he started at No. 14 in the Fedex Cup, spotting the world’s No. 1 player seven shots.
Schauffele and Thomas tied for second, each earning $4.5 million.
Jon Rahm, the No. 2 seed, closed with a 66 to finish fourth and earn $3 million.
Scottie Scheffler, who one year ago was getting ready to start his rookie season, had a 66-65 finish and was fifth for a $2.5 million payoff.