By Brian Wacker
ATLANTA — When did Dustin Johnson know he was dialled in on Sunday at the Tour Championship?

“I always think I’m dialled in,” he said after a third-round six-under 64 at East Lake. “Yeah, from the first swing.”

All the way to the last, too. It’s been that way for much of the last month for Johnson, who has a five-stroke lead going into the final round of the PGA Tour season finale. It marks Johnson’s fourth straight start in which he holds the 54-hole lead and as a result is on the precipice of adding another milestone to a career full of them.

Major champion? Check. No. 1 in the world? Check. Win 22 times on the PGA Tour including in every season he’s been competing? Check.

On Monday, Johnson stands to add another check—a big one—literally and figuratively. If he wins the Tour Championship he’ll win his first FedEx Cup—and the $15 million that goes with it.

It’s the second time in four years that Johnson has had an opportunity to do so. In 2016, he had a share of the lead going into the final round but shot a closing 73—the worst score of anyone in the field that Sunday—to finish in a tie for sixth. He still had a chance to win the FedEx Cup but the math didn’t work out when Rory McIlroy won the tournament to capture both trophies.

“To be the FedEx Cup champion is something that I want to do,” Johnson said. “It’s something that I want on my resume when I quit playing golf.

“Obviously I had a chance to win it a few years ago. Not really in control of that one, so it’s a little bit different.”

A lot different. Unlike in 2016, the only math Johnson will have to worry about this time is finishing atop the leader board—the winner of the tournament Monday automatically wins the FedEx Cup, too, thanks to the format change a year ago that gives the top players on the season-long points list a head start.

And over the last few weeks no one has been better than Johnson, who has a win (by 11 shots at The Northern Trust after shooting 30 under) and two runner-up finishes in his last three starts (BMW Championship and PGA Championship). Going back another week (WGC-FedEx St. Jude), over Johnson’s last 19 rounds, he is a 62 under par in that span.

Meanwhile, Monday could be another blowout victory thanks to another torrid week from the World No. 1.

By virtue of leading the points standings, Johnson started the Tour Championship at 10 under, two strokes better than Jon Rahm and three clear of Justin Thomas. He has since climbed to 19 under and going into the final round is five clear of Thomas and Xander Schauffele (who through three rounds has the lowest total score at East Lake 11 under) Rahm is another stroke back after a 66 on Saturday.

“He’s showcased what he can do,” Schauffele said of Johnson. “If he does what he normally does, it’s going to be almost impossible to catch him. I can try and influence him, which he probably won’t really care about. If I birdie the first three holes, it’s not going to faze him.”

Little seems to.

Six weeks ago, Johnson shot a pair of 80s at the Memorial. Then he missed out on adding a second major at the PGA in August, where he led going into the final round only to get beat by Collin Morikawa. And last week at the BMW, he holed a 45-foot putt on the final hole of regulation to force a playoff against Rahm before Rahm drained a 66-footer on the first hole of sudden death to win.

This week, Johnson hit just two fairways during Saturday’s second-round—going well over two hours at one point without hitting one—before finding his swing in a post-round range session. Sunday, he hit 11 of 14 fairways and led the field in strokes gained/off-the-tee on his way seven birdies and just one bogey.

“We’re going to need Dustin to not have a good day,” Rahm said about the prospects of catching Johnson. “There haven’t been many of those lately.

“What can you say? He’s just a great golfer. He’s one of those guys if you give him a couple shots it’s tough to make up.”

The post Dustin Johnson looks tough to beat heading into the final round at East Lake, and his chasers know it appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.

Roks was so into the event that he bought a Wake Forest golf shirt to match the one he knew I was bringing. And he drained the last five putts he looked at and we danced around the 18th green as we had just hit the lottery. Good times. Anyway, with a heavy heart, let’s turn to everything else happening in the world of golf.

WE’RE BUYING

J.T. Poston: What a performance by Poston, who is winning the Wyndham Championship matched Lee Trevino at the 1974 Greater New Orleans Open (now the Zurich Classic) by not making a single bogey for 72 holes and winning a PGA Tour event. Remarkable.

Streeter Lecka

A couple of weeks ago, a newspaper spelt his name wrong when he was leading the Barbasol Championship. And just a couple of years ago, Poston tweeted that he was mistaken for a valet at the Honda Classic and that he needed to play better. Now he’s hash-tagging tweets with “playED” better.

All I can say is WOW!! @PGATOUR winner!! What an unbelievable week in my backyard in NC!! Absolutely loved playing in front of so many familiar faces and to go 72 holes without a bogey. Don’t think I can dream it up any better than that #playedbetter

— J.T. Poston (@JT_ThePostman) August 5, 2019

Well played. By the way, J.T. Poston has a win this season while JT (Justin Thomas) remains winless. Golf is a crazy sport, huh?

Hinako Shibuno: Speaking of crazy, how about this 20-year-old Japanese golfer’s debut outside of her home country at the AIG Women’s British Open? A closing 20-foot birdie gave her a one-shot win over Lizette Salas at England’s Woburn Golf Club. And it’s a good thing it went in because it might have rolled to Scotland if it hadn’t hit the hole:

BANG ?

Hinako Shibuno, " The Smiling Cinderella" drills the back of the cup for birdie to win the 2019 @AIGWBO!

??? pic.twitter.com/2TztfpPT0p

— LPGA (@LPGA) August 4, 2019

Too bad Mike Breen wasn’t on the call … BANG! In addition to her superb play, Shibuno, who became just the second Japanese golfer to win a major championship, was praised for her pace of play and attitude. She’s nicknamed “the Smiling Cinderella,” and we are looking forward to seeing more of her in years to come.

“The Hovland Rule”: First of all, I’m buying Viktor Hovland, who continued his impressive play since turning pro after the U.S. Open with a fourth-place finish in Greensboro. But second, I’m into the new USGA rule clearly made with him in mind that will allow the reigning U.S. Amateur champ to turn pro and still keep his exemption into the U.S. Open the following year. Had Hovland’s T-13 at Pebble Beach counted toward his PGA Tour earnings, he would have still just missed wrapping up his card for next season (he is eligible to play in the Korn Ferry Tour Finals), but at least he would be roughly $250,000 richer. Hopefully, the Masters will allow its amateur qualifiers to turn pro as well, but it’s the Masters, and the people there do whatever they want, so they probably won’t. And again, it’s too bad the Hovland Rule won’t actually help Hovland.

WE’RE SELLING

Dumb penalties: Brendan Steele was docked two strokes for using an alignment stick during a round. This is dumb, A) Because alignment sticks are dumb in general and he could have just used a club or a regular stick instead, and B) Because how did he not realize instantly that using an alignment stick during a round is a penalty? Then there was Josh Teater, who picked up his ball in the fairway because lift, clean and place were used the first two rounds. More understandable, but again, dumb. Not that I should say anything like someone who once just scooped a ball up during a stroke-play event. Unfortunately for Steele and Teater, neither were able to climb into the top 125 and get into the FedEx Cup Playoffs. If they decide to play in the Korn Ferry Finals, we’re betting they won’t commit either of these infractions again.

Jordan Spieth: Seriously, what is going on? A 77 after putting himself in contention heading into the weekend? At the Wyndham Championship?! Why is Jordan Spieth even playing in the Wyndham Championship?!

Tyler Lecka

In any event, the struggle is real.

The Women’s British Open venue: I’m sure Woburn Golf Club is a fantastic track, but it seemed odd seeing a British Open being played on a course that looked like it was in central New York.

Richard Heathcote

Boring.

ON TAP

The PGA Tour’s top 125 head to Liberty National, AKA that place with the views of the Statue of Liberty, for the Northern Trust, the first of three FedEx Cup Playoff events. Yep, that’s three instead of the usual four. Another tweak? That bonus has been bumped up to $15 MILLION. For more about the postseason, check out this postseason preview from GolfDigest.com’s newest hire, Greg Gottfried.

Random tournament fact: Liberty National’s 13th hole was the site of Tiger Woods’ famously falling to his knees in pain at the 2013 (Is that enough 13s for you?) Barclays. It’s also the site of his ominous, “Yeah, definitely,” press conference at the 2017 Presidents Cup when he was asked if he could see a scenario in which he didn’t return to professional golf. Fingers crossed that he has a more positive outlook when he plays for the first time since saying, “I just want to go home,” after missing the cut at the Open last month. And in 2009, he missed a short birdie on the 72nd hole to lose to Heath Slocum, the No. 124 player in the FedEx Cup standings. In other words, this isn’t Tiger’s favourite place in the world.

PHOTO OF THE WEEK

https://www.instagram.com/p/B0rTQAODPPW/?utm_source=ig_embed

What a year for the Woodlands.

VIRAL VIDEO OF THE WEEK (YOUNG STUDS DIVISION)

How about Matthew Wolff going full Sergio Garcia on this incredible approach shot?

https://www.instagram.com/p/B0yn3OuHm7V/?utm_source=ig_embed

To clarify, that’s going full GOOD Sergio Garcia. Not the videos of the Spaniard destroying golf courses and throwing golf clubs that have been going viral of late …

VIRAL VIDEO OF THE WEEK (YOUNGER STUDS DIVISION)

https://twitter.com/Max_Marcovitch/status/1156232679450431493

SIX-foot-EIGHT at 14?! Good lord, what a beast this guy is going to be.

VIRAL VIDEO OF THE WEEK (EVEN YOUNGER STUDS DIVISION)

?HOLE-IN-ONE ALERT?

Congratulations to Kevin Zhang (10) from Clemmons, NC who made his very first hole-in-one during his very first PGA Jr. League match!! ?? pic.twitter.com/14OvaBuHV5

— PGA Jr. League (@PGAJrLeague) August 5, 2019

A hole-in-one at 10?! And I’m still waiting for my first? Must be nice, kid.

VIRAL VIDEO OF THE WEEK (OLD STUDS DIVISION)

Bernhard Langer has more trophies than you:

He also has a very understanding wife to let him just toss those trophies all over the house.

QUOTE OF THE WEEK

J.T. Poston’s caddie, Aaron Flener, when learning his man is paired with Tiger Woods this week:

I’m having a little trouble breathing right now. pic.twitter.com/SMOLGetxih

— Aaron Flener (@AaronFlener) August 5, 2019

THIS WEEK IN PHIL BEING PHIL

I know I need to let go of the past, but when you crush the past like this it can be hard to let go of it. pic.twitter.com/6jxJFL7KgV

— Phil Mickelson (@PhilMickelson) August 4, 2019

Admittedly, I thought this was Dick Fowler, P.I., when I first saw it. But nope, it’s Phil. Wow. Just … wow.

THIS WEEK IN DUSTIN JOHNSON-PAULINA GRETZKY BROOKS KOEPKA-JENA SIMS PUBLIC DISPLAYS OF AFFECTION SORCERY

Remember those white pants Jena ruined last week? Well, apparently, one of her friends saved them somehow:

Amazing.

THIS AND THAT

Congrats to NHL referee Garrett Rank, who won the prestigious Western Amateur. Rank also qualified for the 2018 U.S. Open. Talk about having some serious street cred at the next hockey game he officiates. … Congrats to Jake Beber-Frankel, the son of Oscar-winning director David Frankel, who broke Akshay Bhatia’s scoring record at the Junior PGA Championship. And now 6-foot-8 Tommy Morrison is coming for them. … Long Drive champ Maurice Allen hit one across Niagara Falls 14 years after John Daly failed to do so. To summarize: John Daly hits it hard, but Maurice Allen hits it harder. … And finally, one more shout-out to my fallen friend by looking back to when he won his second green jacket at the 2013 HGGA Championship:

Of course, that was the year he showed up to Myrtle Beach as a “16” handicap. The rest of us had no chance.

RANDOM QUESTIONS TO PONDER

Which golfer has the biggest trophy collection?

Can Jena’s friend work on a couple of my golf shirts?

Do sandbaggers go to heaven? (Kidding, Roks. RIP buddy.)

The post A new rule comes too late, Matthew Wolff channels (good) Sergio Garcia, and Phil Mickelson’s groovy photo appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.

By Joel Beall
Tiger Woods will be greeted by a surreal sight Thursday morning at the Northern Trust. And we’re not referring to the Manhattan skyline.

On Wednesday afternoon a vicious storm rolled through the New York metropolitan area, with a tornado touching down just miles from Liberty National, site of this week’s FedEx Cup Playoff event. The course did not receive the brunt of the weather, although failed to escape unscathed.

Due to heavy rain and winds up to 60 mph, stands, hospitality venues, signage, tents, and fences were damaged. Andy Vasquez of the New Jersey Record also captured steal gates laying on the hoods of several courtesy cars:

Also, not a great day for a couple of courtesy cars. pic.twitter.com/apTKjaaAfd

— Andy Vasquez (@andy_vasquez) August 7, 2019

PGA Tour and tournament officials confirmed Wednesday night that no one was hurt. However, fans won’t be allowed onto Liberty National until 10:00 a.m. on Thursday, as maintenance crews race to repair damage to the course.

The tournament, though, will still begin the first round its scheduled time at 7:10 a.m., meaning half the field—including Woods, who tees off at 7:43 a.m.—will complete most, if not all, of their front nines without spectators.

“We’re an outdoor sport, so Mother Nature is bound to show up and change our well-laid plans on occasion,” said Julie Tyson, executive director of the Northern Trust. “We look forward to welcoming the world’s best players—and all of the fans who have been waiting for this event all year long—to the kickoff of the FedExCup Playoffs tomorrow.”

Luckily for players, galleries and tournament officials, the weekend forecast calls for temperatures in the mid-80s with a minimal chance of rain.

The post Tiger Woods, field to begin Northern Trust on empty course as storm damage forces organizers to delay fan entrance Thursday appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.

Just moments after Woods arrived on the range, a horn blew signalling everyone to leave the premises. Yes, even 15-time major champs have to seek shelter.

An hour and 20 minutes later, Woods was back on the range to finally, actually begin preparation for the first of three FedEx Cup Playoff events played over three consecutive weeks. That is, if he qualifies for all three. Woods enters this week’s Northern Trust in 28th place in the FedEx Cup standings, and he’ll need to stay in the top 30 through next week’s BMW Championship if he’s to advance to the season-ending Tour Championship and defend his title from a year ago.

Based on how he looked Tuesday, Tiger doesn’t seem too worried.

After a 40-minute warmup, Woods went to the first tee with Brooks Koepka, Dustin Johnson and Harold Varner III. It was a marquee foursome that would have drawn incredible crowds if fans had been allowed on the premises. But with the practice round closed to the public on Tuesday, it was a relaxed atmosphere among some of the biggest names in golf.

RELATED: Tiger Woods’ strange history at Liberty National

Varner might not have the résumé of his playing partners, but he was clearly the comedian of the group. Following a nine-hole loop around Liberty National that began on No. 1 and ended on No. 18, Woods was asked who the funniest player on tour is as part of a GOLFTV video. His initial response was, “Well, we just played with one of them,” referring to the 28-year-old Varner.

Why did Tiger & Co. take such an unusual route for their half-round? Liberty National’s ninth hole is so far from the clubhouse it feels like a weekend trip to the Jersey Shore, so the foursome cut over to No. 17 after playing No. 7. They may have cut in front of a group playing the 16th that included recent Open Championship winner Shane Lowry, but apparently, two 2019 major champs out-rank the Champion Golfer of the Year.

As for Woods’ play, it was solid outside of a lost ball in the high fescue left on the par-4 sixth. Just a guess, but a Tiger-sized gallery would have found it during a tournament day.

He birdied the first hole—different than the first hole used for the 2017 Presidents Cup—but hit two balls off several tees, as well as multiple approach shots in addition to a variety of chips and putts around Liberty National’s undulating green complexes. All the while, Woods, still the only two-time FedEx Cup champ (2007 and 2009), consulted with coach Matt Killen as he has since this year’s Players Championship. Woods also stopped by the practice green before calling it a day.

Woods is making his first start since missing the cut at last month’s Open at Portrush. Following that performance, he said, “I just want to go home.” But he seemed to be in a better mood on Tuesday, perhaps in part because of the balmy New Jersey weather.

He certainly looked better physically than the last time he played Liberty National during the final round of this event in 2013. It was then when Woods crumpled to the ground after hitting his approach on the par-5 13th, the beginning of the back problems that would plague him the rest of his career. Woods returned as an assistant captain at the 2017 Presidents Cup, where he acknowledged he could “definitely” see a scenario in which he wouldn’t play professional golf again.

Instead, remarkably, Tiger returns to tee it up again ranked No. 5 in the world and having added a fifth green jacket to his collection in April. After waiting nearly 11 years in between majors and 14 years in between Masters titles, no delay—especially one involving a horn—seems too bad these days.

The post Tiger Woods dodges weather delay, gets FedEx Cup Playoffs prep underway appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.

By Brian Wacker
The BMW Championship, one of the PGA Tour’s three FedEx Cup Playoff events, will have a new name in 2020, a source confirmed to Golf Digest on Tuesday.

The luxury automaker’s contract with the tour and Western Golf Association runs through this year’s tournament in August at Medinah Country Club outside Chicago, and the source said the company will not stay on as title sponsor beyond that. Efforts are underway to find a replacement for BMW ahead of next year’s event.

The Chicago Tribune was first to report the news.

“We are proud of the partnership we’ve had with BMW since the inception of the FedEx Cup in 2007 and are thankful for the impact BMW has made in supporting the Western Golf Association’s mission to provide scholarships to college-bound caddies,” the PGA Tour said in a statement when contacted by Golf Digest. “Beyond 2019, the PGA Tour and WGA are in active discussions with several companies and are very confident we’ll have a long-term agreement in place starting in 2020.”

The annual cost of title sponsorship for a FedEx Cup Playoff event runs between roughly $16 million to $18 million, according to sources.

For more than a century, the tournament was called the Western Open and was a popular stop on the tour’s regular schedule. Past champions of the tournament included Walter Hagen, Sam Snead, Arnold Palmer, Jack Nicklaus and Tiger Woods, among others. For the last 16 years as the Western Open, it was played at Cog Hill Golf & Country Club.

In 2007, the tournament was renamed the BMW Championship and moved to the newly created FedEx Cup Playoffs portion of the schedule, where it became the third leg of the four-tournament series. The BMW remained at Cog Hill for four of the next five years but has since moved around Chicago and to other venues around the country. In 2018, the event was held at Aronimink Golf Club outside Philadelphia and won by Keegan Bradley (pictured above).

This year, it will be the second of three FedEx Cup events, the tour having shortened the playoffs by one stop. Next year’s tournament, meanwhile, is scheduled to be held at Olympia Fields Country Club, also outside Chicago.

The tournament’s impact on the area will also remain.

Between BMW, the Western Golf Association and the tour, more than $30 million has been raised for the Chicago-based Evans Scholars Foundation, which grants scholarships to qualified caddies based on academic record, character and financial need.

“Moving forward,” Tim Rittenhouse, experiential marketing manager of BMW of North America, told the Tribune, “we will continue to support the Western Golf Association and Evans Scholars Foundation in their important mission of sending deserving caddies to college.”

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