Cantlay Defends BMW: Historic Back-to-Back FedEx Cup Chase Awaits at East Lake

Patrick Cantlay successfully defended his FedEx Cup title on Sunday, making history as the first player to successfully defend a playoff event.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Two shots back of the lead with eight holes to play, his individual winless streak in the 2022 was set to continue. Despite 10 Top-10s, he had failed to secure a win thus far. ‘Patty Ice’ rallied to produce three birdies in the next seven holes before finding the fairway bunker on 18.

Just as Matt Fitzpatrick had done at the US Open, despite finding a fairway bunker off the tee – Cantlay saved his best for last and produced a controlled swing to the heart of the green to set up a two-putt par and a -14 total. He held off Scott Stallings, Scottie Scheffler, Xander Schauffele, Jon Rahm, Rory, Corey Conners and Adam Scott. The leader board was – to use the technical term – stacked.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Cantlay will start at 8 under par next week in Atlanta, two shots back of Scottie Scheffler in the still relatively new format, where performance in a season dictates what handicap you are given compared to the rest of the field. A useful analogy for next week’s format comes from Formula 1 – the closer you are to pole position proves to be a huge benefit to the drivers.

If Cantlay wins next week, he’d be the first person in Tour history to win consecutive FedEx Cups. Quite the statement to the rest of the world that he is still a force to be reckoned with.

Cover Image Via Twitter