Dustin Johnson, well installed at the helm at the end of this 3rd round of the FedExCup playoffs, is very close to pocketing the check for 15 million dollars: the world number 1 has increased his lead, counting five lengths over Xander Sc Chaudele and Justin Thomas.

Tour Championship: Dustin Johnson takes the lead

Dustin Johnson - Photo: DR

Dustin Johnson has a knack for making this infuriating game seem so simple. So it was only fitting that the solution for his rebellious ball hitting game was simple. He was standing too far from the ball. That's all.
“I felt like my swing was in place. The correct position was only a hair's breadth away », did he declare. "I was hitting my driver just a little too much towards the toe, and obviously when you're too close to the toe, he doesn't like that"

This small change in Johnson's setup was enough for him to distance himself from his early pursuers.

On Saturday, Johnson clocked 64 to take a five-stroke lead in the final tournament of the season. Xander Sc Chaudele (67) and Justin Thomas (66) are tied for second place at 14 under par.

Johnson's 64 tied the lowest round of the week.

Today, Dustin Johnson is just 18 holes away from his first FedExCup. This is one of the few things missing from his CV which already destines him for the World Golf Hall of Fame.

"Being a FedExCup champion is something I want to do"said Johnson. “It's something I want to put on my resume when I stop playing golf. "

A victory tomorrow would be the 23rd of his career on the PGA TOUR. It would be his seventh appearance in the FedExCup playoffs, two more than the others. It would also be a major victory and a 6th World Golf Championships.

He started this week with a two-stroke lead, but staying at the top of the table hasn't been easy. Jon Rahm caught up with Johnson after the first round. As of Sunday, the top seven players in the standings have been separated by just four strokes.

Now only three players are within 6 strokes of him. Rahm is in fourth position, at 13 under par.

Johnson could leave East Lake as the best consensus player in the game. He is already number 1 in the world rankings. Winning the FedExCup would also make him the frontrunner to win the PGA TOUR Player of the Year award for the second time in his career. It's an honor he also won in 2016.

The Tour Championship would be his third victory of the year.

Dustin Johnson started this season on the sidelines after knee surgery. Then the game was interrupted by a pandemic. His victory at the Travelers Championship in June was his first in 490 days, tying the longest period of his career without a win.

He fought for his next two starts, scoring 80-80 at the Memorial Tournament and withdrew from the 3M Open after a rocky start.

He responded, however, by playing some of the best golf shots of his career.

This is the fourth start in a row that Johnson has remained in control over 54 holes. He took the lead entering the final round of the three FedExCup and PGA Championship playoffs, where he finished second.

"I am comfortable in the position in which I find myself", did he declare. “Even the two Sundays that I didn't win, I felt like I was playing some really solid tricks. Just a few guys played a little better. "

“Tomorrow is the same. I just have to go out and focus on what I'm doing and try to make the lowest score possible. "

It's the second time Dustin Johnson has taken a five-stroke lead in the final round of this year's FedExCup playoffs. He also did this two weeks ago at the Playoffs opening event THE NORTHERN TRUST. A 63 card on Sunday at TPC Boston gave him a victory with an 11-stroke lead and the second-lowest score in PGA TOUR history.

He is potentially one putt away from a three-round playoff victory. Rahm having managed a 20-meter putt on the first hole of their playoff at the BMW Championship.

Johnson did, however, fight in the first two rounds of this Tour Championship at East Lake. He placed last in terms of driver accuracy over two laps, hitting only 25% of the fairways. He hit more fairways on Sunday than in the first two rounds combined.

"If I drive on the fairway, the game will be much easier"said Johnson. “It's never easy, but the game is much easier if you are on the fairway. "

He had seven birdies in the third round, against a single bogey. If he can play like this again on Monday, he might not need to work too hard on Labor Day.

"If he does the right thing, it will be almost impossible to catch up with him"said Schauffele. “If I birdie the first three holes it's not going to scare him. It's DJ. "

Johnson is one day away from his first FedExCup. All because he started to stand a little closer to the ball.

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