Dell Technologies Championship
Norton, MA
Overnight co-leader and World No. 6 Justin Thomas twirled a 5-under-par 32-34=66 in the final round to conclude on 17-under 267, good for a three-shot win over runner-up Jordan Spieth, who shot 30-37=67 and finished runner-up for a second straight week.
Similar to last week’s FedExCup (FEC) Playoffs opener, the second leg of the postseason featured two of the game’s elite duking it out on Labor Day Monday at TPC Boston – while 54-hole co-leader Marc Leishman (30-40=70), a two-shot leader at the turn, faded to solo 3rd, four back.
Second-round leader Jon Rahm (33-35=68) and England’s Paul Casey (34-36=70) shared 4th place, five adrift. Along with Spieth, Rahm and Casey have posted top-5 finishes in each of the first two Playoffs events.
Final Leaderboard:
1st- Justin Thomas 71-67-63-66 (-17)
2nd- Jordan Spieth 72-65-66-67 (-14)
3rd- Marc Leishman 67-69-65-70 (-13)
T4- Jon Rahm 67-66-71-68 (-12)
T4- Paul Casey 70-65-67-70 (-12)
Thomas, a pre-tourney 22/1 outright, bags his sixth PGA TOUR title in his 92nd career event (88 pro), fourth as 54-hole leader/co-leader.
6 wins
2017: Dell Technologies (54-hole co-leader)
Winning Margin: 3 shots
2017: PGA Championship (come from behind, 2-shot deficit)
Winning Margin: 2 shots
2017: Sony Open (54-hole leader)
Winning Margin: 7 shots
2017: SBS TOC (54-hole leader)
Winning Margin: 3 shots
2017: CIMB Classic (come from behind, 4-shot deficit)
Winning Margin: 3 shots
2016: CIMB (54-hole co-leader)
Winning Margin: 1 shot
The Kentuckian claims his first FEC Playoffs victory in nine events and his first top-5 finish:
9 FEC Playoffs starts
6 top 25s
4 top 10s
1 top 5
1 win
His previous best in the postseason was T6 (x2), at last week’s THE NORTHERN TRUST, and T6 at last year’s TOUR Championship.
Tidbit:
Current Form: 1-T6-1
Playoffs Form: 1-T6-T6
The Alabama product adds a fifth TOUR title this season in 23 events – retaking the season lead by one over first-round leader Dustin Johnson, who began the final round three back, same as last week, but couldn’t replicate last week’s closing 66 that forced a playoff (win) at THE NORTHERN TRUST, trailing off instead to T18 (66-72-66-73), a whopping 10 shots adrift.
Thomas, who entered the week as the season-leader in top-10 finishes – by one over Rickie Fowler who finished T13 – maintained that cushion over Spieth, who’s now in second place (alone) with 10.
Thomas’ Season:
23 starts
17 made cuts
6 missed cuts
13 top 25s
11 top 10s (TOUR leader)
8 top 5s
5 wins
Form: 1-T6-1-T28-CUT-CUT-CUT-T9
Season Leaders in Top-10 Finishes:
Justin Thomas (11 in 23 events)
Jordan Spieth (10 in 21 events)
Rickie Fowler (9 in 19)
Jon Rahm (9 in 21)
Dustin Johnson (8 in 18)
Paul Casey (8 in 22)
Hideki Matsuyama (7 in 20)
Matt Kuchar (7 in 24)
Kevin Kisner (7 in 26)
Brian Harman (7 in 28)
Charley Hoffman (7 in 29)
Justin Rose (6 in 16)
Marc Leishman (6 in 23)
Pat Perez (6 in 24)
Rory McIlroy (6 in 13)
Brooks Koepka (6 in 22)
Daniel Berger (6 in 24)
Tony Finau (6 in 27)
Graham DeLaet (6 in 25); eliminated from Playoffs (FEC: 76th)
21 (of 46) winners this season had a top-25 finish the start prior (45.6%). Thomas was the third consecutive:
Recent:
Justin Thomas: 1st, Dell Tech; after T6 at The NT
Dustin Johnson: P1, NORTHERN TRUST; after T13, PGA
Henrik Stenson: 1st, Wyndham; after T13, PGA
15 (of 46) winners this season had a top-10 finish the start prior (32.6%). Thomas is the first since Spieth at The Open and just the third in the last 21 events:
Recent:
Justin Thomas: 1st, Dell Tech; after T6 at The NT
Jordan Spieth: 1st, The Open; after P1 at the Travelers
Cameron Smith: P1, Zurich Classic (team); after T6 at Valero Texas Open
Thomas at Dell Tech:
3 starts
2 made cuts (previous-best T56/2015)
1 missed cut
1 top 25
1 top 10
1 win
Thomas was a cumulative 4-over in his previous six laps at TPC Boston. Current form wins this time.
2017 Tournament Winners (45 events/46 winners):
39 (of 46) winners this season were 33-years-old or younger
27 winners were in their 20s (Thomas, age: 24)
14 were in their 30s
5 were in their 40s
Multiple Winners on TOUR (season):
Thomas: 5 (one major)
Johnson, D: 4
Spieth: 3 (one major)
Matsuyama: 3
Field Scoring Average:
This was the 11th playing of the Dell Tech (in the FEC era), previously known as the Deutsche Bank, with all 11 at TPC Boston.
7,342 yards; par 71 (36-35)
R1: 71.916
R2: 70.149
R3: 70.924
R4: 70.025
Total: 70.781
Thomas: 71-67-63-66 for 16.014 SG: Total
Thomas’ Position by Round:
R1: T30
R2: T15
R3: T1
4-for-6
Thomas’ overall TOUR record as 54-hole leader/co-leader (all four this season)
How Thomas Won on Sunday:
After opening in 71-67 and week-low 63, Thomas began T1.
Playing out of the final twosome with Leishman, he hit nine (of 14) fairways and 12 greens in regulation (GIR), posting 1.165 SG: Off-the-Tee, 0.051 SG: Approach-the-Green, and 1.069 SG: Around-the-Green.
Thomas saved par at the first from 10’6”, two-putted the par-5 second for birdie, saved par from 6’11” at the third, and then banged in a 32-footer from the fringe for eagle at the drivable par-4 fourth. He circled the par-5 seventh from 6’8” to turn bogey-free 4-under 32, but had dipped to T2 with Spieth – who began the day two back and reached the break in bogey-free 30 out of the penultimate twosome – both were trailing Leishman however, who also turned in bogey-free 30 to lead by two.
Leaderboard at that point:
1st- Leishman -18 (thru 9 holes)
T2- Spieth -16 (playing the 10th)
T2- Thomas -16 (thru 9)
4th- Casey -13 (playing the 10th)
5th- Rahm -12 (thru 11)
At the par-4 10th, Leishman duck-hooked a 3-metal into the hazard, leading to a bogey-save from 14’8”, but wound up squaring three straight and five total for a birdie-less 40.
Meanwhile, Thomas push/sliced his 3-metal at the 10th and was heading OB-right but got a fortuitous carom off a tree, keeping him in-play. He squared a lone bogey-5 at the next, his first failed scramble of the week, and circled birdie-3s at 13 and 15 from 7’10” and 4’0”, respectively.
Spieth, similar to Leishman, stalled out on the back nine, carding one final birdie at 13 (from 5’7”), overshadowed by three squares at 12, 14 and 18.
R4 Stats Comparison (ranking of 79 players):
SG: Off-the-Tee:
Thomas: 1.165 (4th)
Spieth: 0.849 (10th)
Leishman: -0.463 (58th)
SG: Approach-the-Green:
Thomas: 0.051 (40th)
Spieth: 1.882 (11th)
Leishman: -0.523 (54th)
Proximity:
Thomas: 30’8” (T12)
Spieth: 34’0” (T27)
Leishman: 45’2” (T75)
SG: Around-the-Green:
Thomas: 1.069 (9th)
Spieth: -1.172 (T71)
Leishman: -1.085 (69th)
SG: Putting:
Thomas: 1.740 (15th)
Spieth: 1.466 (16th)
Leishman: 2.096 (11th)
SG: Total:
Johnson: 4.025 (T3)
Spieth: 3.025 (T12)
Leishman: 0.025 (T35)
How Thomas Won the Tournament:
Ranked 1st in Total Bogeys; 1st in Par-4 Scoring (one eagle-2, 13 birdies, no bogeys); 1st in SG: Tee-to-Green and 1st in Scrambling.
Thomas’ Weekly Stats (ranking of 79 players):
Eagles: 1 (T4)
Birdies: 17 (T12)
Bogeys: 2 (1st)
Par-3 Scoring: 3.06 (T32)
Par-4 Scoring: 3.68 (1st)
Par-5 Scoring: 4.67 (T30)
Driving Distance (all drives): 292.0 yards (5th)
Driving Accuracy: 33/56 (T58) at 58.93%
GIR: 51/72 (T13) at 70.83%
Proximity: 32’8” (5th)
Putts per GIR: 1.686 (12th)
Total Putts: 108 (T3)
Putts by Round: 31-25-26-26
Scrambling: 20/21 (1st) at 95.24%
SG: Off-the-Tee: 1.812 (14th)
SG: Approach-the-Green: 5.939 (5th)
SG: Around-the-Green: 3.794 (6th)
SG: Putting: 4.469 (8th)
SG: Tee-to-Green: 11.545 (1st)
Updated Top 10 in FEC standings (points):
With FEC points quadrupled, Thomas collects 2,000 FEC points for the victory and bumps one spot to 2nd in the FEC standings, 27 points behind new-leader Spieth.
1. Jordan Spieth (5,071); UP one
2. Justin Thomas (5,044); UP one
3. Dustin Johnson (4,650); DOWN two
4. Hideki Matsuyama (3,021)
5. Jon Rahm (2,894)
6. Rickie Fowler (2,217)
7. Marc Leishman (2,084); UP 13
8. Paul Casey (2,065); UP four
9. Brooks Koepka (1,952); DOWN two
10. Pat Perez (1,894); UP four
Note: The last five FEC champions were no worse than 6th in the standings entering the TOUR Championship.
FEC Playoffs Implications:
IN:
Stewart Cink (finished 12th): from 81 to 57
Rafa Cabrera Bello (T18): from 80 to 60
Emiliano Grillo (22nd); from 77 to 62
OUT:
Russell Knox (T61): from 65 to 71
Kelly Kraft (WD): from 64 to 72
Brandt Snedeker (DNP): from 68 to 73
Updated Top 10 in Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR):
With a Strength of Field rating of 728 (down slightly from 731 last year), Thomas banks 74.00 world-ranking points and climbs two places to a career-high 4th in OWGR.
1. Dustin Johnson (T18); pre-tourney fave outright (15/2)
2. Jordan Spieth (2nd)
3. Hideki Matsuyama (T23)
4. Justin Thomas (Won); UP two, career high
5. Jon Rahm (T4)
6. Rory McIlroy (CUT); defender, first MC in Playoffs events that have a cut
7. Henrik Stenson (idle); UP one
8. Sergio Garcia (T35); DOWN one
9. Jason Day (T25)
10. Rickie Fowler (T13)
Note: Thomas is the 10th straight winner of a Playoffs event that were inside the top 15 in OWGR at the time of victory
Draw:
33 tourneys this season with a traditional draw:
WINNERS:
EARLY/late: 21 (63.6%); Thomas
LATE/early: 12
A total of 79 players from a field of 96 made the 36-hole cut of 3-over 145:
37 (of 46) EARLY/late; 2 WDs
42 (of 48) LATE/early
11 players finished in the top 10:
6 EARLY/late: Justin Thomas (Won), Jordan Spieth (2nd), Marc Leishman (3rd), Kevin Na (T6), Patrick Reed (T6), Pat Perez (T6)
5 LATE/early: Jon Rahm (T4), Paul Casey (T4), Phil Mickelson (T6), Bill Haas (T10), Justin Rose (T10)
Yahoo! Low Rounds:
R1: Dustin Johnson (65)
R2: Morgan Hoffmann, Branden Grace (64)
R3: Justin Thomas (63)
R4: Rafa Cabrera Bello, Bill Haas (65)
Weekend Bogey-free Rounds:
R3: Justin Thomas (63); Marc Leishman (65); Rickie Fowler (66); Dustin Johnson (66); Patrick Cantlay (68); Patrick Reed (69)
R4: Rafa Cabrera Bello (65); Bill Haas (65); Sung Kang (66); Patrick Reed (66); Gary Woodland (67); Mackenzie Hughes (67); Pat Perez (67); C.T. Pan (69)
Leader/co-leaders by Round:
R1: Dustin Johnson: Drops to 3-for-14 as 18-hole leader/co-leader (Zero for last nine)
R2: Jon Rahm: Drops to 0-for-2 as 36-hole leader/co-leader
R3: Justin Thomas: Improves to 4-for-6 as 54-hole leader/co-leader
R3: Marc Leishman: Drops to 0-for-1 as 54-hole leader/co-leader
Runner-Up:
Jordan Spieth: After kicking off in 72-65-66, the 24-year-old began T4, two back.
Playing out of the penultimate twosome, he hit 10 (of 14) fairways and 12 GIR, posting 0.849 SG: Off-the-Tee and 1.882 SG: Approach, but -1.172 SG: Around-the-Green.
The Texan, coming off a playoff loss last week as 54-hole leader, stormed out of the gate with a birdie-eagle-birdie-birdie start, and briefly co-led on 16-under after another birdie at the seventh.
That would be just about it however, mustering just one more circle over his final 11 holes.
Similar to last week, the 2015 FEC champ is going to feel like he let this one slip by – taking nothing away from Thomas’ stellar effort.
This is his second top 10 in five appearances, first since T4 on debut in 2013.
Spieth in FEC Playoffs:
18 starts
8 top 10s
5 top 5s
3 runners-up (P2, 2017 The NT; T2, 2013 TOUR Championship)
1 win (2015 TOUR Championship)
Spieth’s Season:
21 starts
18 made cuts
3 missed cuts
15 top 25s
10 top 10s
9 top 5s
3 wins
Form: 2nd-P2-T28-T13-1-P1-T35
FEC Rank: 1
OWGR: 2
Chasing his 12th TOUR title in his 125th career start (117 pro), Spieth settles for his 13th career runner-up and 28th top-3 finish.
Leishman in FEC Playoffs:
26 starts
2 top 10s (T2, 2009 BMW Championship)
2 top 5
0 wins
Leishman’s Season:
23 starts
20 made cuts
3 missed cuts
14 top 25s
6 top 10s
4 top 5s
1 win (Arnold Palmer Invite)
Form: 3rd-CUT-T13-T41-T6-T5
FEC Rank: 7 (career high; up 13)
OWGR: 23 (career high; up seven)
Casey in FEC Playoffs:
17 starts
9 top 10s
8 top 5s (five straight, six in last seven)
0 wins
Casey’s Season:
22 starts
21 made cuts
1 missed cut
16 top 25s
8 top 10s
5 top 5s
0 wins
Form: T4-5th-T13-T5-T11-T5-26-T10
FEC Rank: 8 (up four)
OWGR: 14
TOUR Rookies &/or First-Timers:
TOUR Rookies: 9
Top-10 finishes: 0
Advanced to BMW Championship: 6
Rookies Eliminated from Playoffs: Cody Gribble, C.T. Pan, J.J. Spaun
Mackenzie Hughes: Making his tournament debut, the TOUR rookie and World No. 121 finished T13 on 8-under 276 (70-68-71-67), sharing top-rookie honors.
This is the fifth time this season in 30 starts that he’s been/shared low rookie (Win, RSM; T27, Sony; T10, Pebble Beach; T23, Houston Open). The 26-year-old is 21-for-30 on the season with nine top 25s and two top 10s.
FEC Rank: 31 (up six)
OWGR: 108 (up 13)
Form: T13-T62-CUT-T66-T32-T20
Patrick Cantlay: Making his tournament debut, the TOUR rookie and World No. 99 finished T13 on 8-under 276 (69-68-68-71), sharing top-rookie honors.
This is the fourth time this season that he’s been/shared low rookie (2nd, Valspar; T35, Memorial; T10, The NT). The 25-year-old is 11-for-11 on the season with six top 25s and three top 10s.
FEC Rank: 41 (up nine)
OWGR: 87 (career high; up 12)
Form: T13-T10-T33-T48
First-Timers: 21
Top-10 finishes: 1
Jon Rahm: The first-time member though not a rookie was making his tourney debut and finished T4, his second straight top-5 finish to begin the postseason.
The 22-year-old Spaniard was the second-round leader by two (67-66) before an even-par 71/R3 dropped him to T7, three back. He closed in 3-under 68 (five birdies, two bogeys).
Rahm in FEC Playoffs:
2 starts
2 top 10s (T3, 2017 The NT)
2 top 5s
0 wins
Rahm’s Season:
21 starts
19 made cuts
2 missed cuts
12 top 25s
9 top 10s
8 top 5s
1 win
Form: T4-T3-T58-T28-T44-CUT-CUT-T2
FEC Rank: 5
OWGR: 5
Consecutive Top 10s on TOUR:
Justin Thomas (1st-T6-1st)
Jordan Spieth (2nd-P2)
Jon Rahm (T4-T3)
Paul Casey (T4-5th)
Justin Rose (T10-T10)
Consecutive Top-10 streaks ended:
Webb Simpson (T75-T6-3rd)
Jason Day (T25-T6-T9)
Louis Oosthuizen (T30-T10-T2)
Matt Kuchar (T56-T10-T9)
Consecutive Top 25s on TOUR:
7- Rickie Fowler (T13-T20-T5-9th-T22-T3-T5)
6- Paul Casey (T4-5th-T13-T5-T11-T5)
5- Henrik Stenson (T17-1st-T13-17-T11)
5- Dustin Johnson (T18-P1-T13-T17-T8)
3- Patrick Reed (T6-T20-T2)
3- Jason Day (T25-T6-T9)
2- Patrick Cantlay (T13-T10)
2- Kyle Stanley (T25-T25)
Field Breakdown:
22 of the Top 25 in OWGR were in the field
6 finished in the top 10:
No. 2 Jordan Spieth (2nd)
No. 5 Jon Rahm (T4)
No. 6 Justin Thomas (Won)
No. 14 Paul Casey (T4)
No. 15 Justin Rose (T10)
No. 21 Patrick Reed (T6)
Other Top-10 Finishers:
No. 30 Marc Leishman (3rd)
No. 32 Phil Mickelson (T6)
No. 38 Bill Haas (T10)
No. 39 Pat Perez (T6)
No. 73 Kevin Na (T6)
Other Notables:
No. 1 Dustin Johnson (T18); pre-tourney FEC leader and odds fave
No. 3 Hideki Matsuyama (T23)
No. 4 Rory McIlroy (CUT); defending champ
No. 7 Sergio Garcia (T35)
No. 9 Jason Day (T25)
No. 10 Rickie Fowler (T13)
No. 12 Brooks Koepka (T18)
No. 13 Matt Kuchar (T56)
No. 18 Adam Scott (CUT); eliminated from Playoffs (FEC: 79th)
No. 26 Kevin Chappell (T35); secured 10th (and final) automatic Presidents Cup berth
