Redemption: Dustin Johnson Wins the BMW Championship
The biggest question after the PGA Championship last month was will Dustin Johnson recover from being penalized on the 72nd hole? Answer: Yes. Almost exactly a month later, Johnson hoisted the trophy at the BMW Championship and has put himself in a position to be crowned the FedEx Cup Champion.
On a Sunday when everyone did whatever they could to lose, Dustin Johnson hit a remarkable approach shot on 17 to make an easy birdie and made par on a challenging 18th hole to hang on for the victory. His tournament total 9-under was good enough to defeat Paul Casey by one stroke. The win, Johnson's second of the season, jumped him up in the FedEx Cup standings from 16th to 2nd and put him in the race with Matt Kuchar for Player of the Year.
Big Names Eliminated from PGA Tour Playoffs
Although the most notable, Tiger Woods isn't the only big name player to not finish in the top 30 in the FedEx Cup standings and miss the TOUR Championship in a couple of weeks. Do the names Rickie Fowler and Stewart Cink ring a bell? They should.
Along with Woods, Fowler and Cink were named to the US Ryder Cup team by Captain Corey Pavin and along with Woods, they both fail to finish in the top 30. Cink started the weekend in 35th place and fell to 38th. Fowler started the weekend in 25th place but played his out, finishing in 32nd.
Exciting Finishes on the 72nd hole
Charlie Wi needed a par on the 18th to qualify for the Tour Championship. After a wayward tee shot, Wi punched out and hit his 3rd shot to within 10 feet of the pin. It was simple: make the putt and advance, miss the putt and your season ends. Unfortunately for Wi, he slightly pulled it and was eliminated from the PGA Tour Playoffs.
Ryan Moore made things interesting as well. Moore held the lead after the 3rd round but it came down to the 72nd hole to decide if he would finish in the top 30 and qualify for the TOUR Championship. Needing only a bogey to advance, Moore hit his second shot from the rough just over the green, leaving a difficult downhill chip with water in the background. After discussion with his caddy, Moore played a safe shot out to the left and eventually made bogey to finish in 26th. He started the event in 58th.
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