2021 Tour Championship: Top 10 power rankings at East Lake

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OWINGS MILLS, MARYLAND – AUGUST 29: Bryson DeChambeau of the United States lines up a putt on the 15th green during the final round of the BMW Championship at Caves Valley Golf Club on August 29, 2021 in Owings Mills, Maryland. (Photo by Tim Nwachukwu/Getty Images) /

When Patrick Cantlay’s tee ball on the par-3 17th submerged into the water, it looked like Bryson DeChambeau had the BMW Championship locked up. Cantlay battled to make bogey, but DeChambeau countered with par to take a one-shot cushion to the last hole Sunday.

DeChambeau led by as much as five shots in the final round and was well clear of the rest of the field even when Cantlay caught up.

The Big Golfer lapsed with a closing bogey and sparred with Cantlay for six playoff holes. The stoic, unexpressive Cantlay hung in longer than the expressive, emotive DeChambeau.

Both put on a show and expect to factor into the proceedings this week. DeChambeau begins just three off the lead and can lean into his aggressive style to gain ground at East Lake.

Bryson’s made it to the Tour Championship three times, all since 2018. He peaked to take T-12th in 2019 where he fired a gross score that would have tied him for seventh.

DeChambeau has eight top-40 finishes in his last nine starts.

While he’s disappointed how last week turned out, he can take pride in knowing he and Cantlay were four shots clear of third place.

DeChambeau unsurprisingly led the field in SG off the tee (8.032 total) and was second in SG putting (9.358). On the season, the former SMU Mustang ranks first on the PGA Tour in SG off the tee (1.17 per round) and is second in total SG (1.918).

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