McIlroy fades as DeChambeau wins back to back
Bryson DeChambeau
Rory McIlroy lost his driving mojo as Bryson DeChambeau claimed back to back FedEx Cup playoff wins with victory in the Dell Technologies Championship at TPC Boston.
Winner of last week’s Northern Trust, the self-proclaimed golfing scientist (24) looks certain to be named as one of Jim Furyk’s captain’s picks today after he clinched his third win of the season and the fourth of his career, closing with a four-under-par 67 to win by two shots from Justin Rose on 16-under par.
Rose came back from a one-over front nine by rattling in four birdies in his last six holes to close with a 68, edge out Australian Cameron Smith for second place and a move from sixth to third in the FedEx Cup standings with two events remaining.
But McIlroy's hopes of making a major moved up the standings failed to materialise when he closed with a disappointing one-under 70 and rose just four places to 24th as he finished in an eight-way tie for 12th on 10-under.
To add insult to injury, DeChambeau moved ahead of him in the world rankings, moving from 12th to seventh with the Co Down falling one spot to eighth.
Tied for eighth, just four shots behind Abraham Ancer heading into the final round, McIlroy had a string of chances inside 15 feet on the front nine but took just three of them.
He was still just two shots off the lead with nine holes to go but he never looked entirely comfortable off the tee and found just three of seven fairways and limped home in two-over 37.
.@B_DeChambeau just keeps winning.
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) September 4, 2018
Check out all the highlights from his final round @DellTechChamp that led to his second consecutive win. pic.twitter.com/DjRir5OXox
When DeChambeau separated himself from the chasing pack with three birdies in a row from the seventh, McIlroy needed to step up but was unable to apply any pressure on the leader.
While he salvaged par at the 13th after a big hook, he bogeyed the 14th and 15th after wayward drives to the right and eventually ended the week tied for 12th on 10-under par.
With only the top 30 after this week’s BMW Championship at Aronimink in Philadelphia making the season-ending Tour Championship, Spain's Rafa Cabrera Bello did most to impress Ryder Cup skipper Thomas Bjorn before he announces his four wildcards tomorrow.
One of Europe's top scorers as a rookie in 2016, he led early after playing his first 11 holes in six-under.
But chasing a win that would have made him a certainty to get the nod, he three-putted the 13th and then bogeyed the 15th and 18th for a 68 to finish tied for eighth on 11-under par with Dustin Johnson, who held on to his world number one crown,
"Obviously it's disappointing," the Spaniard said. "It's not the finish I wanted. I had the round going well and gave myself a chance of winning, but when things don't go your way, it's disappointing.
"I thought 15 under might have a chance and was trying to go one hole at a time but things got messy.
"Looking at the bigger goal, I felt I did as much as I can. I tried to qualify on my own means and couldn't do that, so I came here and tried to show that I am in form and I think I have proven that so hopefully it will be good for me."
DeChambeau wobbled with a bogey at the 13th and Smith closed to within
“It is going to be tricky for Thomas because does it come down to who he chooses of the Spanish guys. Does he go for Rafa or does he pick Sergio?”
Cabrera Bello qualified comfortably for the BMW Championship at a projected 40th in the FedEx Cup with another wildcard hopeful, Paul Casey, 17th after he tied for 21st on eight under after a 68.
Henrik Stenson was also projected to qualify for Philadelphia at 60th in the standings despite carding a three-over 74 to finish tied 69th on one-over.
There was no luck for Dubai Duty Free Irish Open champion Russell Knox, however, as the Scot finished 43rd in the tournament on four-under following a 71 and out of the FedEx Cup at 89th in the standings.
As for Tiger Woods, he was three-under for his round with five holes to go but denied on the greens — he had 33 putts last night — he bogeyed the 14th and found water to double bogey at the short 16th, carding a level par 71 that left him back in the pack on seven under.
Of the rest of the Ryder Cup hopefuls, Tony Finau strengthened his case for a pick on form when he tied for fourth after a 68 with Phil Mickelson 12th on 10-under after making a major statement with a closing 63.
"Well, this one has an opportunity to be my favourite and most special," Mickelson said of his potential call-up for the US team. "We've never won over there. I feel like we have the team. I feel like we have the leadership and we have the direction.
"We have the game plan that will allow us to play our best. If I'd be lucky enough to get on the team and go over there and be part of a winning team it would probably be my most memorable one."
Rose admitted that Furyk is in a better position that Bjorn right now but added that three weeks is a long time in golf and momentum can still shift Europe's way.
“The way I see it at the present moment in time is that Jim has more players in form but then three weeks in golf is a long time,” Rose told the Daily Express.
“Jim has guys like Tiger, Phil, Tony Finau and Bryson who are in form and that makes it a little easier.
“Tiger’s shown enough to earn a pick. Phil’s shown enough and Bryson finishing ninth on the table and one spot from selection and wins in the manner he's done these past two weeks, I can’t see why he won’t be picked.
“As for the European picks, it is going to be tricky for Thomas because does it come down to who he chooses of the Spanish guys. Does he go for Rafa or does he pick Sergio?
“Sergio has not given Thomas much to work with by not playing, so we will have to wait and see.”
Birdies at the eighth and ninth holes gave DeChambeau a two-shot lead which he doubled before Smith made a late charge to get within a shot as the winner bogeyed the 13th.
A birdie at the 15th, where he hit a three wood and a wedge to nine feet and made the putt proved key.
“That was it,” DeChambeau said. “That’s how I play golf right there. Make that birdie and come off the green confident.”
