2022 Tour Championship: Top 10 power rankings at East Lake
Patrick Cantlay is fresh off his title defense at the BMW Championship. Can he double up at the Tour Championship, too?
Cantlay doesn’t have the fortune of starting atop the staggered leaderboard, but he (-8) is only two behind FedEx Cup standings leader, Scottie Scheffler (-10).
“I remember last year just trying to stay really in the moment, day after day, and thinking that with that couple shots’ advantage, depending on how you look at it, I’ll be two behind this year, just trying to shoot under par each day and not losing sight of that,” Cantlay was transcribed by ASAP Sports. “I’ll definitely draw on those memories from last year and try and stay as focused and in the moment as possible.”
Cantlay fired 68-68-65-69 (-14) to win by one over Scott Stallings and by three over third place last week at Wilmington Country Club.
This was Cantlay’s first individual win since the 2021 BMW.
The former UCLA Bruin won alongside Sunday’s playing partner and friend, Xander Schauffele, this year at the Zurich Classic of New Orleans.
Cantlay was second in the field in Delaware in strokes gained tee to green (8.821). He was T-2nd in scrambling (80%).
Cantlay’s triumph was gratifying for a player who racked up tons of high finishes without a win. The 30-year-old owns nine top-10s and three runner-ups. Two of his second-place finishes came in playoffs to Jordan Spieth and Scottie Scheffler.
Cantlay won’t be in the running to defend his PGA Tour Player of the Year honor, but he can still win the FedEx Cup and oodles of cash.
This will be his fifth appearance at East Lake. Cantlay failed to finish better than 20th his first three visits. He fired 67-66-67-69 win in 2021 by a shot. Cantlay’s two-shot cushion to start the week came in handy as he was T-4th on the gross leaderboard that the Official World Golf Ranking recognizes.
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There’s no cut this week, but the fact that Cantlay’s missed just two all season is a testament to his consistency.
He’s 42nd or better in all strokes gained categories, including eighth in total SG per round (1.657).