Inspired Cantlay Challenges Fleetwood In Bid For Tour Championship Glory

Keegan Bradley, Scottie Scheffler, Patrick Cantlay? Just erstwhile Tommy Fleetwood looked to person a patient grip connected this Tour Championship, Cantlay emerged from nan shadows successful a bid to go nan 3rd personnel of nan United States Ryder Cup contingent successful nan people of this play to contradict Fleetwood nan triumph he is agelong overdue connected American soil. It feels poetic that Cantlay was beforehand and centre arsenic Fleetwood and Europe triumphed complete nan US successful Rome 2 years ago. If it is to beryllium Tommy’s time, he will person to scrap for it. Cantlay mightiness beryllium successful his location state but truthful galore of nan Atlanta assemblage will guidelines for nan hugely celebrated Fleetwood connected time four.

Cantlay birdied 4 of his past 5 holes astatine East Lake to nutrient a backmost 9 of 31 successful an wide 64. Cantlay’s 16 nether par topped Fleetwood until nan Southport golfer rolled successful a birdie putt from 10ft astatine nan 17th. Fleetwood’s 67 meant he is tied astatine nan leaderboard acme pinch Cantlay, 18 holes from home.

Fleetwood rattled disconnected 4 birdies successful succession from nan 5th to endorse nan consciousness this is yet his American time. East Lake jabbed backmost astatine nan 15th, wherever Fleetwood recovered h2o from nan tee earlier slipping to a double bogey five. Fleetwood’s consequence was excellent, courtesy of shots collected astatine nan 16th and 17th earlier his fairway wood to nan past drifted into a greenside bunker. Sixteen nether plays 16 under. There is simply a two-shot spread to Russell Henley successful third. Cantlay has already virtually assured he will beryllium a Ryder Cup captain’s prime connected Wednesday but glory present would further warrant that position.

On nan charge: Patrick Cantlay’s information of 64 near him pinch a stock of nan lead. Photograph: Erik S Lesser/EPA

Bradley’s upcoming Ryder Cup determination is getting harder by nan day. The US captain, who must take whether aliases not he besides wants to play astatine Bethpage, posted a 63 to leap to 13 under. Strange though it whitethorn look for a qualifying process which lasts 2 years, Bradley’s last time capacity feels hugely significant. Should he triumph aliases moreover travel adjacent to claiming nan Tour Championship, he is surely group to go nan first playing skipper successful nan Ryder Cup since Arnold Palmer successful 1963.

“I caught myself connected nan scope coming reasoning astir thing I wanted to show nan squad astatine Bethpage and it happens to maine passim nan round,” Bradley explained. “I spot a feline astatine nan leaderboard and I retrieve who we’re reasoning of pairing him pinch and it’s awesome that they’re playing good, aliases I wish they were a small higher, immoderate it is. It’s been a chaotic year. I’m conscionable trying to tackle what’s successful beforehand of me, and I deliberation I’ve done a bully occupation of that. This mightiness beryllium my champion information of nan year, which I’m really proud of.”

Like Fleetwood, Rory McIlroy recovered h2o astatine nan 15th. The Northern Irishman 3 putted nan past for a bogey, his information of 71 moving him backmost to six nether par. It feels arsenic if McIlroy is marking clip until nan Ryder Cup. Scheffler can, of course, not beryllium ruled retired of this arena aft a 66 for 12 nether successful total. Robert MacIntyre’s situation faded pinch a 72, leaving him 8 awkward of nan starring duo.