Thomas two rounds away from $10 million

ATLANTA With two swings, Justin Thomas showed that every shot counts in the FedEx Cup, even at the season-ending Tour Championship.

Thomas had six players ahead of him Friday when he smashed a 335-yard drive down the bottom of the hill on the par-five 18th hole at East Lake, then used a 5-iron to hit a second shot that settled six feet below the cup to set up a closing eagle.

Just like that, Thomas had a 4-under 66 and a share of the lead with Paul Casey and Webb Simpson and was back in control — a loose term the way this tournament is shaping up going into the week — of his chase for the US$10-million bonus.

“It’s nice to have everything in my own hands and know that if I just take care of what I need to do, then it’s over,” Thomas said. It’s not over yet. Not even close. Casey stumbled with some errant tee shots into the troublesome rough for back-to-back bogeys in a round of 67 that slowed his momentum.

Simpson paid for a wild drive on No. 13 with a double bogey and made nothing but pars coming in for a 67.

They joined Thomas at 7-under 133.

Adam Hadwin of Abbotsford, B.C., is five shots back and tied for 18th after a 67 of his own.

As one of the top five seeds, Thomas only has to win the Tour Championship to capture the FedEx Cup. Even a third-place finish might be enough to take home golf ’s richest bonus, depending on who wins the tournament.

Jon Rahm, the No. 5 seed who also has a clear path to the top prize, played bogey-free for a round of 67.

He was one shot behind, along with Patrick Reed (65), Justin Rose (66) and Gary Woodland (67), all of them trying to win for the first time this year.