Dustin Johnson turned 60 on Friday, but likely ended the 2020 Northern Trust competition by backing it with 64 on Saturday to get to 22 under for the week. DJ takes a five-time lead on Sunday as he tries to finish his 22nd career win on the PGA Tour just six weeks after hitting consecutive rounds of 80-80-78.
If none of this makes sense, that’s okay, it shouldn’t.
Johnson has been great at TPC Boston all week, even when you come out of 60. He’s earning over four shots per round from tee to green (an elite number) when only one other golfer (Scheffler) hits three. Incredibly, Johnson only made one bogey in his last 38 holes and only three in the entire week through Sunday. It seems absolutely automatic right now.
Of course, we know with DJs that sometimes this is where it can go a little sideways. Although his record as a 54-hole leader at PGA Tour events was strong, he just lost from that position two weeks ago at the PGA Championship (and is 0 of 4 in the majors when he leads after three rounds). He is also the ultimate golfer to lose a 54-hole five-stroke lead on the PGA Tour.
However, not all 54-hole leads are the same and Johnson is out of five in a group that, while all are solid players, won’t let him lose much sleep on Saturday night. Therefore, he should aim for yet another victory in the final round at TPC Boston; by doing so, it would tie Rory McIlroy and Tiger Woods for the most wins in FedEx Cup playoff history with five. However, if he gets caught (a huge if!), Here are the players who have a chance to invest him on Sunday.
Harris English (-17): The troubling part of English’s week so far is that many of his hits have been earned with the putter. This probably won’t hold until the end of the event, but I’m going to go a little against the grain on this one because I think the Brit can hit the ball with DJ and won’t wither under the pressure of Sunday. Plus, it’s his driver who has been a little wobbly this week, which is a much better sign of bad iron game. I’m in English to get the # 3 PGA Tour win on Sunday.
Scottie Scheffler (-17): Scheffler won’t be in the final duo on Sunday as the Brit overtook him with a great third round, but if you’re looking for a reason for Scheffler’s victory, it’s the tee-to-green match. He is second in this field in shots earned the tee to green behind Johnson. Only five of the previous 11 players who shot 59 in one event (as Scheffler did on Friday) have won that event.
Louis Oosthuizen (-15): It’s amazing that Oosthuizen still has only one win on the PGA Tour (the 2010 Open Championship), but it’s true. He needs a good Sunday as he finished 99th in the week in the FedEx Cup rankings and is well out of the top 70. If he finishes in the top five, he will easily be in the BMW championship next weekend. This will be the tournament within Sunday’s tournament.
Daniel Berger (-14): It was absolutely on fire and is third on this season’s PGA Tour in the average score in the last round. He won the Charles Schwab Challenge two and a half months ago by coming out ahead of the leaders on Sunday and posting a 66. He’s someone who could scare 60 in the final round (and he might need to get a win).
Harry Higgs (-14): While the atmosphere is absolutely aspirational, I don’t see Higgs doing it on Sunday. However, he has a lot to play for as he is right in the top 70 bubble to enter the BMW championship next week. He needs a great Sunday.
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