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A20 SPORTS
Monday 19 august 2019

Thomas holds on to win

BMW Championship

By DOUG FERGUSON a lead,” Thomas said. “You Both captains, Woods and
AP Golf Writer don’t know how often Ernie Els, will have four picks
MEDINAH, Ill. (AP) — Justin things like this will happen, on Nov. 5. With so much
Thomas had more stress and it feels great.” at stake, the one certainty
than he wanted and an- The victory, the first for going into the final round
swered with the shots he Thomas since the World would have seemed to be
needed Sunday at Me- Golf Championship at Fire- the winner. Thomas had a
dinah to win the BMW stone last year, gives him a six-shot lead, and only sev-
Championship and claim two-shot lead starting the en players dating to 1928
the No. 1 seed going into Tour Championship next had ever lost a lead that
the FedEx Cup finale. week as the top 30 players big on the PGA Tour.
Thomas watched a six-shot in the FedEx Cup chase the Thomas didn’t hit a fairway
lead shrink to two in a span $15 million prize. until the fifth hole. He still
of three holes around the The field will have a stag- had a six-shot lead when
turn until he regained con- gered start based on their his chip from across the
trol with two great wedg- position in the FedEx Cup, green on the par-5 seventh
es, and two pivotal putts. meaning Thomas starts at nearly went for eagle.
One last birdie gave him 10-under par. And then it turned quickly.
a 4-under 68 and a three- The top 30 who advanced Cantlay made an 8-foot
shot victory over Patrick includes Lucas Glover, who birdie on No. 7, followed
Cantlay, who gave him a went bogey-double bogey with a 12-foot birdie on No.
Justin Thomas holds the BMW trophy after he won the final round battle to the end with a 65. late in his round until finish- 8 and a 6-foot birdie on No.
at the BMW Championship golf tournament at Medinah Country
Club, Sunday, Aug. 18, 2019, in Medinah, Ill. “I was really nervous to- ing with a par to wrap up 9. Thomas then helped out
Associated Press day. It’s hard to play with his first trip to East Lake in 10 by hitting his second to the
years. par-5 10th under a tree,
It will not include Masters hitting left-handed to get
champion Tiger Woods, it out and making bogey.
the defending champion. Cantlay made his fourth
Woods was a long shot go- straight birdie, and the
ing into the final round to lead was down to two with
crack the top 30, and he eight holes remaining.
closed with a 72. East Lake That’s when Thomas came
was his first victory in five to life with a wedge to 2
years, capping his return feet for birdie. He followed
from four back surgeries, a with two key putts, and the
special moment replaced most important might have
some six months later by his been for par. He drove
Masters victory. into the right rough and
“It’s disappointing,” Woods had to play some 65 yards
said. “Last year culminated short of the green, hitting
in a pretty special moment wedge up to about 12
for me and would have feet. Cantlay had a 15-foot
been nice to go back birdie putt, and a two-shot
there.” swing would have cut the
Hideki Matsuyama took the lead to one.
36-hole lead with a 63 until Cantlay missed. Thomas
falling back with a 73. He made his par putt, stepping
responded with another 63 forward with a fist pump.
to finish alone in third, mak- On the par-3 13th, Cantlay
ing him one of three play- rolled in a 15-foot birdie
ers who moved into the top putt, only for Thomas to
30 to reach East Lake. The match him with a birdie
other was Jason Kokrak, from 12 feet to stay three
but only after J.T. Poston ahead. Cantlay drove the
made bogey on his final green on the short par-4
hole. 15th, but missed his 15-
The U.S. team for the Presi- foot eagle putt as Thomas
dents Cup didn’t change, got up-and-down from 45
with Bryson DeChambeau yards for birdie.
holding down the final spot. Thomas finished at 25-un-
Tony Finau would have der 263 — seven shots low-
needed to finish alone in er than what Woods shot at
third. He closed with a 69 Medinah when he won the
to finish fourth, unable to 2006 PGA Championship
keep up with Matsuyama. — and earned $1,665,000.
Nothing changed for the Even more money is at
International team either, stake next week, though
as Jason Day failed to earn this was a burden lifted.
one of the eight automatic All he cared about was
spots. winning.q