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A18 SPORTS
Friday 23 august 2019
Thomas loses cushion, shares lead in Tour Championship

Kuchar told me. I looked at
him the same way. Got it.”
Patrick Cantlay, the No. 2
seed who began two shots
behind, shared the lead
briefly until two bogeys over
the last five holes for a 70. It
wasn’t a good day, yet he
still was only two shots be-
hind.
Thomas missed a 3-foot
par putt on No. 12. On the
par-3 15th, which played
60 yards shorter than usual,
his wedge was right all the
way and found the wa-
ter. And on the 17th, he hit
wedge to 3 feet only to see
his birdie putt spin 270 de-
grees around and out of
the cup.
“It’s fine,” Thomas said. “I’m
tied for the lead.”
Schauffele won the Tour
Championship two years
ago in a situation that led
to this change in format.
FedEx Cup points accrued
during the regular season
and quadrupled in the
postseason were reset to
give everyone a chance.
The top five players only
had to win the tournament
to capture the FedEx Cup,
and odds of winning the
bonus were higher as the
position in the standings
got lower.
Justin Thomas reacts as he misses a putt for eagle on the 18th hole during the first round of the Tour Championship golf tournament Schauffele, a rookie in 2017,
Thursday, Aug. 22, 2019, in Atlanta. was the No. 26 seed when
Associated Press he won the tournament.
By DOUG FERGUSON scores to par than others hind at the start as the No. The concern was that The FedEx Cup went to
AP Golf Writer depending on their place 5 seed, had a 66 and was Thomas, who won last week Thomas, who was the No. 2
ATLANTA (AP) — Xander in the FedEx Cup. one shot behind at 9 un- at Medinah, might post an- seed and finished one shot
Schauffele was six shots Thomas, who started at der going into the second other low score and build a behind.
behind before he ever 10-under par and a two- round. Over the next three huge lead. There were two winners
hit a shot Thursday in the shot lead as the No. 1 seed, days, it should look and feel It didn’t work out that way. that day and mixed emo-
new scoring format for the still led despite having trou- like a normal tournament. “We’ve got a golf event tions. Thomas had never
Tour Championship. His ble finding the fairway. That The score to par is all that now,” Casey said. “This is been so irritated winning
goal was to keep his head was the least of his prob- matters in deciding who kind of cool. Looks like it’s $10 million.
down, play good golf and lems on the back nine. He wins the FedEx Cup and working.” Now, the reward for a
see where he stood to par hit pitching wedge into the the $15 million prize. And There were a few other mo- good season and two play-
at the end of two days. water for double bogey after one day, it was setting ments that indicated this off events is a lower score
The TV cameras following and missed a pair of 3-foot up to be a shootout. The Thursday was different from under par to start the Tour
his every move on the back putts for a 70. top five players were sepa- all others in golf. Championship, and the
nine at East Lake were the Instead of being six shots rated by five shots at the Thomas made the turn at lowest score to par at the
first hint it was going well. behind Schauffele, who start, and that number was 1 under, and as the walk- end of the week wins $15
A leaderboard on the 18th started at 4 under as the at 12 players by the end of ing scorer brought the sign million.
green confirmed it. No. 8 seed, Thomas was the day. across the road and onto “I think everyone need-
“I saw I was in first,” he said. tied for the lead. Koepka, That included Paul Casey, the 10th tee, one fans was ed help from J.T.,” said
“Happy with the day.” the No. 3 seed who started who felt a new kind of an- shocked to see him at 11 Schauffele, a phrase usu-
Schauffele didn’t come se- three shots behind, birdied ticipation for a Thursday. under until he said, “That’s ally only heard going into
riously close to a bogey in three of his last four holes “After five holes, I wanted right — he started at 10 un- the final round, not on a
a 6-under 64 that was the for a 67 to join them at 10 to see scores. I never usu- der.” Thursday. “If J.T. went out
best score of the opening under. ally care about what’s Schauffele was at 10 under and shot a pair of 65s, I
round by two shots. It was “It’s weird on Thursday to going on after five holes,” when he approached the don’t think the tour would
only worth a share of the be three back after a cou- said Paul Casey, who shot 18th green to face a 6-foot be very happy and I don’t
lead with Justin Thomas ple of holes,” Koepka said 66. He started eight shots birdie putt. think the rest of the field
and Brooks Koepka in a of the start. “It’s nice to behind as the No. 16 seed “I had a putt for 59 on the would be happy.
Tour Championship where close that gap on Day 1.” and cut that margin in half last hole,” he said with a “But it looks to be a good
players started with better Rory McIlroy, five shots be- after one round. smile. “That’s what (Matt) tournament so far.”q