Sports shorts DeChambeau builds 4-shot lead

Bryson DeChambeau described himself as a “man on a mission,” and he sure played like one Saturday in The Northern Trust.

Now it’s a matter of which mission he’s on.

DeChambeau made four birdies in a five-hole stretch around the turn to pull away from a fading collection of stars, closed with two more birdies and had an 8-under 63 to build a fourshot lead over Keegan Bradley going into the final round of the opening FedEx Cup playoff event.

A victory would assure DeChambeau one of the top seeds at East Lake to have a clear shot at the $10 million bonus for winning the FedEx Cup.

“That would be something pretty special,” he said.

And the timing would be ideal for his Ryder Cup hopes. DeChambeau narrowly missed qualifying for the U.S. team when he missed the cut at the PGA Championship, but a victory against one of the strongest fields of the year might be tough for Jim Furyk to ignore when he makes three of his captain’s picks a week from Tuesday.

“I’ve just got to keep focusing on this tournament,” the 24-year-old Californian said. “If I can play well in the first leg of the FedEx Cup, I’ll hopefully show captain that I’m worthy.”

He played the part on a day when everyone else around him went the other direction.

DeChambeau and Adam Scott were the only players from the last 10 players to tee off who managed to break par, and Scott had to birdie three of his last four holes for a 70. He was six shots behind.