Rookie Schauffele wins Tour, Thomas hits $10m jackpot

RookieXander Schauffele outdid the big guns to win the Tour Championship onSunday but Justin Thomas hit the jackpot by taking home the $10 millionprize for claiming the FedEx Cup playoff title.The 23-year-oldSchauffele fired a two-under 68 in the fourth round to became the firstrookie to win the Tour Championship as he beat Thomas by one shot atEast Lake golf course. Thomas put the finishing touches on hisbreakthrough season by closing with a 66 to claim the PGA Tour’s playofftitle and the $10 million first place prize that goes with it.“As acompetitor you are mad that you didn’t win the tournament but then yourealise what an unbelievable honour this is, the fact that you can winsomething over the entire course of the season,” said Thomas, who wonfive tournaments in 2017, including the PGA Championship. “I played really well over the season and it is nice to finally play well in some playoff events and have it all pay off.”Thelast time different players won the tournament and the FedEx Cup was in2009, when Phil Mickelson won the Tour Championship and Tiger Woods wonthe Cup. Jordan Spieth made a run at the FedEx Cup title with aSunday charge but his three-under 67 left him in second place overall,660 points back of Thomas in the standings.“He has that belief nowthat he can make it happen,” Spieth said of Thomas. “The progression hehas made this year into becoming a phenomenal closer has been a pleasureto watch.”The Tour Championship is the last of four events of theFedEx Cup playoffs and the finale to the PGA Tour campaign for the 11thconsecutive season.Thomas’ playoff win brings to a close theyear-long schedule that began last October in California. Five players,including Thomas, controlled their own playoff destiny if they couldcapture the Tour Championship this week, but Schauffele came out of theshadows to make it interesting. Spieth, Dustin Johnson, Marc Leishman and Jon Rahm also could have all won the FedEx Cup title with a Tour Championship victory.Schauffele finished with a 12-under 268 total, one stroke ahead of Thomas.Russell Henley (65), and Kevin Kisner (70) tied for third at 10-under 270.England’sPaul Casey, who began the final round with the lead, struggled from thebeginning. He had back-to-back bogeys on the front nine and wound upwith a 73 and finished in fifth at 271. The consolation prize for Casey is he gets to go home and see his newborn daughter for the first time. Spieth made a run but finished in a tie for seventh at seven-under 273 and was left to muse about missed opportunities. Spieth’s swindle falls short“I almost cheated my way into winning the FedEx Cup when (Thomas) really deserved it,” Spieth said.Schauffele added some drama to his final hole when his two foot putt for the win ringed the cup before falling in. “Ithought I missed it, that’s why I couldn’t’ even react to celebratebecause I thought I just missed a two-footer to win,” Schauffele said. RoryMcIlroy, the 2016 FedEx Cup champion, finished 58th in the FedEx Cupstandings and did not qualify to play this year in the TourChampionship.Leading fourth-round scores 268 - Xander Schauffele 69-66-65-68269 - Justin Thomas 67-66-70-66270 - Russell Henley 67-71-67-65, Kevin Kisner 68-68-64-70271 - Paul Casey (ENG) 66-67-65-73272 - Brooks Koepka 66-69-68-69273 - Tony Finau 68-71-68-66, Jordan Spieth 67-70-69-67, Jon Rahm (ESP) 67-67- 70-69274 - Sergio Garcia (ESP) 73-66-68-67, Matt Kuchar 69-71-67-67, Justin Rose (ENG) 68-66-71-69275 - Webb Simpson 66-67-72-70, Patrick Reed 69-65-69-72