Zach Johnson shot a final-round 65 to claim the BMW Championship title on Monday and advance his FedEx Cup hopes. The American moved up to fourth in the standings ahead of the Tour Championship, which begins on Thursday, as he held of the challenge of compatriots Nick Watney and Jim Furyk at Conway Farms Golf Club in Illinois. Play went into a fifth day following rain on Sunday and Furyk, who shot a PGA Tour record-equalling 59 in the second round and shared the lead heading into the final round, fell off the pace with a 71 as his three-year winless run continued. Watney&aposs 64 was the best score of the day and it ensured his spot at East Lake in the season&aposs finale, but Johnson sunk two lengthy birdie putts at the 16th and 17th to secure the triumph. World No.1 Tiger Woods returned to the top of the FedEx Cup leaderboard following his 11th-place finish, shooting 71 on Monday, while former leader Henrik Stenson dropped to second after finishing in a tie for 33rd. Woods, who received a two-shot penalty in round two after his ball was deemed to have moved when he was moving debris from behind it, showed some signs that his back injury may be flaring up again, with his swing appearing to be impeded on occasions. Englishman Luke Donald&aposs 66 was enough for him to join the field for the Tour Championship, having started the event in 64th, but countryman Lee Westwood will miss out after placing 67th. Only the top 30 points scorers are eligible for the tournament and the overall winner of the FedEx Cup will net US$10 million. If any of the top five, which consists of Johnson, Woods, Stenson, Matt Kuchar and Adam Scott, win the final event, they will automatically clinch the overall title. Of the Australian&aposs in the field, Jason Day climbed seven places to equal fourth on the back of an impressive final-round 66. Matt Jones was a further shot adrift in a tie for eighth at 10 under, while fellow Aussie Scott ended in a share of 28th at two under, two strokes ahead of Marc Leishman in equal 38th.
Author: Omnisport