Lightning has struck twice for Patrick Cantlay as the American won the BMW Championship for the second successive year to leave him in a strong position to defend his FedEx Cup title.
Cantlay went into the final round at Wilmington Country Club with a one-shot lead over Scott Stallings and Xander Schauffele, and got off to a solid if unspectacular start with three pars to start the day. The 30-year-old’s first birdie of the day came at the fourth as he looked to stamp his authority on proceedings – particularly with Schauffele suffering an indifferent start that featured a bogie at the second as he slipped further behind.
It wasn’t all plain sailing, with Stallings on Cantlay’s tail until Stallings eventually opened up a two-shot lead thanks to Cantlay wobbling near the turn with bogies at the eighth and 10th. Cantlay hit back with a birdie at the 11th then he held his nerve to hole a tricky putt at the 12th for par as the pair went neck-and-neck into the remaining holes.
At the same time, World No.1 Scottie Scheffler was making his own bid for the title, with three birdies in four holes taking him to within two of the lead with three to play. His surge threatened to come unstuck on the 17th when he landed in a bunker, but his recovery shot made the green and he eventually saved par. On the 18th, a delicate chip left Scheffler close – but not close enough – to a birdie. While a par would have still left him in with a chance of victory with a one-shot deficit heading back to the clubhouse, his dreams were dashed when his putt for par stayed out, leaving him two behind the leaders.
Meanwhile, Stallings and Cantlay were finally about to be separated. Stallings had a chance to take the outright lead on the 18th. However, his birdie putt rolled agonisingly wide as he finished on 13 under. One hole behind him, Cantlay had a birdie chance of his own, which he duly took to give him a one-shot lead with one to play.
Needing a par to win, Cantlay found a bunker from his tee shot on the 18th. However, he held his nerve to reach the green with his second…
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