ATLANTA — Dustin Johnson had a reasonable lie in the rough and only a few pine tree branches blocking his path to the 17th green. Neither seemed like a problem until he played the wrong shot, clipped the tree and wound up with a double bogey Saturday in the Tour Championship.
It was an example of how one hole can change everything at East Lake. And it’s why the final round of the PGA Tour season suddenly has more scenarios than Johnson cares to consider.
RYDER CUP 2016: Facts and figures
What: 41st Ryder Cup matches.
When: Friday-Sunday, Oct. 2.
Where: Hazeltine National (Chaska, Minnesota).
Television: Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. (Golf Channel); Saturday, 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. (NBC Sports); Sunday, noon to 6 p.m. (NBC Sports).
Format: Four matches of fourballs (better ball) and foursomes (alternate shot) on Friday and Saturday, 12 singles matches on Sunday.
Points: Europe needs 14 points to retain the cup. The United States needs 14½ points to win the cup.
Series: United States leads 25-13-2.
Captains: Darren Clarke (Europe), Davis Love III (US).
European roster: Rafa Cabrera Bello, Matt Fitzpatrick, Sergio Garcia, Martin Kaymer, Rory McIlroy, Thomas Pieters, Justin Rose, Henrik Stenson, Andy Sullivan, Lee Westwood, Danny Willett, Chris Wood.
United States roster: Dustin Johnson, Zach Johnson, Brooks Koepka, Phil Mickelson, Patrick Reed, Brandt Snedeker, Jordan Spieth, Jimmy Walker, Rickie Fowler, J.B. Holmes, Matt Kuchar.
Noteworthy: The front nine will be Nos. 1-4 and 14-18, while the back nine will be Nos. 10-13 and Nos. 5-9 for better viewing on the back nine and the finish closer to the 50,000-square-foot clubhouse. … Phil Mickelson and J.B. Holmes are the only U.S. players who have played on a winning Ryder Cup team.
– Associated Press
Johnson recovered with a birdie from the bunker on the par-5 18th for a 1-under 69, giving him a share of the lead with Kevin Chappell (68) going into the last round that will determine who wins the Tour Championship and the FedEx Cup.
For the first time since 2009, there’s a chance it might not be the same player.
“There’s a lot of scenarios that could happen,” Johnson said. “But yeah, I’m still going to go out and try to shoot as low a score as possible.”
Johnson only has to win or finish second alone to claim the $10 million bonus as the FedEx Cup champion.
Rory McIlroy, who has gone 28 holes without a bogey at East Lake, had three birdies over his last six holes for a 66 and was two shots behind. If he were to win the Tour Championship and Johnson finished in a two-way tie for second or worse, McIlroy would claim the FedEx Cup.
“It would just be great to try to win the Tour Championship, and if the chips fall my way, then so be it,” McIlroy said.
The winner of the Tour Championship has won the FedEx Cup every year since 2009, when Phil Mickelson won the tournament and Tiger Woods won the FedEx Cup.
CHAMPIONS TOUR: Scott McCarron eagled the par-5 12th and shot a 5-under 66 to take a two-stroke lead in the Pacific Links Bear Mountain Championship.
Doug Garwood was second after a 66. Colin Montgomerie was 11 under.
EUROPEAN TOUR: France’s Alexander Levy completed an 8-under 63 and the delayed second round to take a four-stroke lead in the rain-shortened European Open at Bad Griesbach, Germany.
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