Rory McIlroy is gunning for Dustin Johnson – the only man that stands between him and a $10 million payday.
Heading into the final round of the Tour Championship, the Northern Irishman is just two strokes behind leaders Dustin Johnson and Kevin Chappell after he crafted a superb bogey-free four under 66 at East Lake Golf Club.
“So I was looking out there and watching. I knew the only person I really need to watch this week is Dustin. I want to see where he is,” McIlroy said.
McIlroy is keep close tabs on Johnson because he needs some help if he is to claim the rich FedEx Cup title. Johnson entered this week’s Tour Championship leading the FedEx Cup point standings. McIlroy, even with a win at the Deutsche Bank Championship in week two of the play-offs, arrived in Atlanta in sixth place, which means he needs the cards to fall in his favour.
But, to put it simply, McIlroy needs to win the Tour Championship and have Johnson finish in a tie for second or worse to claim the FedEx Cup title and the $10 million booty.
“I felt like every time he made a mistake, he bounced right back with a birdie,” said McIlroy paying tribute to Johnson’s form. “That isn’t even me looking at the coverage. It’s me looking at the leaderboard. I’m thinking ‘Yeah, I’m getting closer’ and he gets another birdie.
“Everyone knows where they are. You have to pass your time some way between shots. Golf, there’s a lot of things you can think about between shots. So I have to look at what’s going on.”
McIlroy has had his chances before to win what has been an elusive FedEx Cup title for him. In 2012 he was first in the FedEx standings arriving at the season-ender and finished 10th. Two years later, he was fourth in the point standings and finished tied for second behind Bill Horschel.
McIlroy’s putter has been a stone around his neck this year but there have been genuine signs during the FedEx Cup play-offs that he has worked out his problems on the greens.
With so much time going into rectifying his putting, his swing started to falter but some work on the East Lake range on Friday afternoon with his long-time coach Michael Bannon has him confident he has turned the corner.
McIlroy worked on getting his upper and lower body in sync, which helped the 27-year-old hit nine out of 14 fairways and 17 of 18 greens in regulation during the third round.
“I think it’s something I’m going to have to continue to work on beyond this week, but it’s definitely something I needed to address,” Rory said. “… So much better golf swing today and I think that obviously is related to what I did last night on the range.”
Queensland’s Adam Scott sits midfield heading into the final round after a second consecutive one over 71, which leaves him one over for the tournament and nione shots adrift of the leaders.
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