Justin Thomas moves in to FedEx Cup lead with win at BMW Championship

Justin Thomas will head to East Lake in the top spot in the FedEx Cup after claiming his 10th PGA Tour win at the BMW Championship

Justin Thomas, who put on a phenomenal display during his course record 61 at Medinah on Saturday, eased to a convincing three shot victory over Patrick Cantlay with a final round four-under 68. 

With so much of his work done on Saturday, Thomas led throughout the day and held off challenges from Cantlay and Hideki Mastuyama as he went on to set the 72-hole scoring record at the BMW Championship on 25-under-par. 

His victory, which included a final hole 15-footer for birdie, saw him overtake Brooks Koepka at the top of the FedEx Cup standings ahead of the Tour Championship at East Lake. 

“I was really nervous going into today, had been awhile and out on the golf course it was fun,” said Thomas. “I remember that it’s really hard to win a golf tournament and I’m glad that I was able to do so.”

The World No.10 began the day with a six shot lead and recovered well after an opening hole bogey with birdies at both the par-five 5th and 7th holes. At the same time, Cantlay strung together three consecutive gains from the 7th while Matsuyama went out in 31, cutting the defecit at the top to four strokes at the turn.

Thomas dropped another shot at the 10th after hitting one long and next to a bush, and a birdie from his playing partner Cantlay quickly reduced the gap to just two. 

But Thomas responded perfectly with an impressive approach shot on the 11th to just two feet to regain momentum, and he added three more birdies coming in to get to 25-under. 

Cantlay briefly looked to be within striking distance after he followed up his birdie on 13th by driving the green on the par-four 15th, but his eagle try slipped past the hole – and a par-putt at the 16th went the same way. He closed his round with back-to-back birdies on the final two holes, but still finished three shots behind Thomas. 

Hideki Matsuyama, who fired his second 63 of the week on Sunday, claimed solo third spot and a big jump in the FedEx Standings to secure his place at East Lake, with Tony Finau in fourth. 

Tiger Woods couldn’t do better than a final round 72 to finish tied for 37th with Jordan Spieth, neither of whom could better their FedEx Cup standings and will miss out on next week’s Tour Championship.