Dustin Johnson hits his tee shot on the ninth hole during the final round of the BMW Championship on Sept. 11, 2016 in Carmel, Ind.Scott Halleran/Getty Images
Powerful off the tee and relentless with the putter, Dustin Johnson didn't give anyone much of a chance Sunday by closing with a five-under 67 to win the BMW Championship by three shots and move to the top of the FedEx Cup.
Johnson won for the third time in his past eight tournaments dating to his first major at the U.S. Open, and this might have been his most complete performance.
"I've got a lot of confidence in every part of my game," Johnson said.
Paul Casey did just about everything he could, including two early birdies for two-shot swings that erased a four-shot deficit in two holes. Johnson answered with a pair of birdies and he was on his way. Casey made a 25-foot eagle putt on the 15th hole to get within one shot, but that lasted only as long as it took Johnson to make an 18-foot eagle putt on top of him to keep the margin at three shots.
Casey was runner-up in his second straight FedEx Cup playoff event, losing to Rory McIlroy a week ago. His consolation, along with $1,836,000 (U.S.) in those weeks, was the No. 5 seed at the Tour Championship in two weeks. That means he only has to win at East Lake to capture the $10-million bonus.
Rickie Fowler, who started the week at No. 22 in the FedEx Cup, closed with a 71 and finished 59th at Crooked Stick. He was bumped out of the top 10 by the smallest margin in the 10-year history of the FedEx Cup – 0.57 points behind Charl Schwartzel, who closed with a 64.
The timing is particularly bad for Fowler because Davis Love III makes three of his captain's picks for the Ryder Cup on Monday, with another one right after the Tour Championship. Fowler won't have another chance to audition, though he might get picked on Monday, anyway.
Roberto Castro holed out for eagle from the seventh fairway on his way to a 67 to finish alone in third, sending the Georgia Tech grad and Atlanta resident home to play in the Tour Championship for the second time.
J.B. Holmes tied for fourth, key for him because the big hitter from Kentucky also needs a captain's pick to play in the Ryder Cup. Holmes finished at No. 10 in the Ryder Cup standings, one spot ahead of Fowler.
David Hearn of Brantford, Ont., shot a 71 to finish the event tied for 32nd at five-under 283.