USA TODAY International Edition
Deutsche Bank win catapults Stenson to top
NORTON, MASS. A great summer finally paid off for Henrik Stenson.
Stenson made three consecutive birdies to race by fast- fading Sergio Garcia and holed a bunker shot for birdie on the 17th hole to turn back a final threat from Steve Stricker and win the Deutsche Bank Championship on Monday. Stenson was runner- up in the British Open and a World Golf Championships event, and he tied for third in the PGA Championship. All that was missing was a trophy, and he took care of that on Labor Day at soggy TPC Boston by closing with a 5- under- par 66 for a two- shot win over Stricker.
The 37- year- old Swede moved to the top of the FedExCup standings after two playoff events, ensuring him his first trip to The Tour Championship and a clear shot at the $ 10 million prize.
“I’m just pleased I won here,” said Stenson, who tied the tournament record at 22- under 262. “This was a big goal of mine to win a golf tourna- ment after all those nice finishes. My family is here. I’m going to see my kids in a little bit. It’s all good.”
Stenson’s win was only part of the high drama Monday, so much that Tiger Woods became an afterthought. He closed with a 73 and tied for 65th. The best image of him all day was Woods walking back out to the course after a rain delay with him and his 6- year- old daughter dressed in matching red.
Brendan Steele thought his season was over when the final round was halted for two hours because of rain. Steele made a birdie putt on the 15th when play resumed, hit a 9- iron to 2 feet for birdie on the 16th and closed with two more birdies to sneak into the top 70 in the FedExCup standings and advance to the third playoff event in two weeks at Conway Farms north of Chicago.
Steele appeared to bump Ernie Els out of the top 70 when he tied him at 12- under 272.
“It feels like I just missed the cut,” Els said when he finished. But “Big Easy” was given a big reprieve. K. J. Choi made a bogey on the par- 5 18th. Charley Hoffman made bogey on the 17th. Kevin Chappell missed an 8- foot birdie putt on the last hole. That combination was enough for Els to grab the 70th spot by a fraction of a point.
Stricker’s third runner- up finish this year allowed him to move into the top 10 and qualify for the Presidents Cup team, despite playing a part- time schedule. That put the 10th spot up for grabs, and Zach Johnson grabbed it with a 25- foot birdie putt on his last hole.
Lost in the commotion was Jordan Spieth, the 20- year- old Texan dressed in a shirt with the Dallas Cowboys’ silver- and- blue colors. He went birdie- birdie- birdie- eagle at the end of his round for a 62 right before the rain delay.
With such soft conditions, his 17under 267 was never going to hold up. Spieth wound up tied for fourth and is No. 10 in the FedExCup standings. He is assured of becoming the first player since Woods in 1996 to start a season with no status and reach The Tour Championship.
U. S. captain Fred Couples will announce his two wild- card picks for the Presidents Cup on Wednesday.