Thomas moves up in Tour f inale

PGA champion is tied for the lead after a 66 and in good position to capture the $10-million FedEx Cup bonus.

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 on the par-five 18th hole at East Lake, and then hit a five-iron that settled six feet below the cup for a closing eagle.

Just like that, Thomas had a four-under 66 and a share of the lead with Paul Casey and Webb Simpson and was back in control — for now — of his chase for the $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 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 sevenunder 133.

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.

But that list is plenty deep after two sweltering days at East Lake.

Jon Rahm, the No. 5 seed who also has a clear path to the top prize, played bogeyfree for a 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.

Dustin Johnson, the No. 3 seed, has been sputtering. He failed to birdie either of the two par-fives, managed only a 69 and still was only four shots behind.

“I just want to get within striking distance,” Johnson said. “If I can get it within three, I would be happy.”

Jordan Spieth was lucky to be just four shots behind. The No. 1 seed in the FedEx Cup missed five straight greens in regulation on the back nine and stayed in the game with some crucial par putts. He settled for a 70 and headed straight for the practice area.