(Marc Leishman)
Marc Leishman led from start to finish as he eased to a five-stroke
victory at the BMW Championship in Lake Forest, Ill.
Leishman started Sunday with a five-stroke lead, and the Australian
carded a 4-under-par 67 in the final round for a four-round total
of 23-under 261 at the Conway Farms Golf Club. That broke the
72-hole tournament record that Tiger Woods set at Cog Hill in 2007,
and sends him to the Tour Championship as the No. 4 seed in the
FedExCup, giving him a chance to win the $10 million prize.
Five strokes back, tied for second, were Rickie Fowler and
England's Justin Rose. Australia's Jason Day finished alone in
fourth at 268 after a final-round 69, and Matt Kuchar and Spain's
Jon Rahm were another stroke back at 269.
Leishman, 33, lost a two-shot lead on the back nine at the TPC
Boston two weeks ago, and he said that defeat affected him.
"I had a few scars from a few weeks ago," Leishman said. "I was
just really, really determined to not let that happen again. Got it
done."
Rose, who finished the round with a 65, provided the only
challenge. He got within two shots of the top spot before Leishman
sank birdie putts on the 15th and 16th holes.
Fowler finished with a 67, and he needed a birdie on the 18th to
capture the No. 5 seed for the FedExCup finale next week at the
Tour Championship. He got a par instead.
Rahm birdied four of his last five holes for a 67 and will be the
No. 5 seed.
Jordan Spieth shot 65 to tie for seventh at 271 and retain the No.
1 seed. Justin Thomas is the second seed, and Dustin Johnson is
third.
All 30 players at East Lake have a mathematical chance to win the
FedExCup, but the top five seeds only have to win the Tour
Championship to take it.
Patrick Cantlay tied for ninth Sunday at 272 and snuck into the top
30 at No. 29. Cantlay returned to golf after a three-year absence
caused by a back injury.
"Feels good. You know, nice to play all the playoff events,"
Cantlay said after his round. "It means a lot for next week. I can
pick my schedule and it's great. I played well today. The golf
course was harder, but Leishman doesn't make it seem that way."
Phil Mickelson needed an eagle on the 18th hole to make it to East
Lake, but his 140-foot pitch for eagle hit the hole and popped out.
He finished the tournament at 274.
Rory McIlroy had a disappointing final day, shooting an even-par 71
to finish at 282, tied for 58th. That dropped him out of the top 30
