With one month remaining until the start of the FedExCup Playoffs, Jordan Spieth has seized control of the FedExCup standings following his win at The Open Championship, where the 23-year-old recovered from a shaky start to his final round at Royal Birkdale to shoot a 1-under 69 and edge Matt Kuchar by three shots for his third career major and 11th PGA TOUR title. Spieth is committed to play in THE NORTHERN TRUST, the first event of the FedExCup Playoffs.
With 600 FedExCup points from the victory, Spieth moved from No. 4 to No. 1 in the FedExCup standings, taking over the top spot from Dustin Johnson who held the lead position for 17 weeks. The win has Spieth in position to make another run through the FedExCup Playoffs, where THE NORTHERN TRUST kicks off the four stops at the conclusion of the PGA TOUR season. Featuring do-or-die drama as the top 125 players in the FedExCup compete on a world stage, THE NORTHERN TRUST will be played at the prestigious Glen Oaks Club in Old Westbury, New York, from August 22-27, 2017.
Spieth entered the final round at The Open Championship with a three-stroke advantage over Kuchar, but surrendered his lead after the 13th hole, where Spieth made bogey following a penalty for an unplayable lie. With five holes to play and 4-over on his round, Spieth played the next four holes in 5-under to take a two-stroke lead to the 18th hole, where a routine par preserved the victory.
Spieth will make his fifth career appearance at THE NORTHERN TRUST, where the Texan’s best finish was a T10 at Bethpage Black last year.
Kuchar, who won THE NORTHERN TRUST in 2010 at Ridgewood Country Club, came tantalizingly close to winning at Royal Birkdale, holding a one-shot lead over Spieth after the 13th hole. But he was not able to withstand the barrage of birdies and eagles from the 23 year old.
Players still have five events left to position themselves to play in THE NORTHERN TRUST and, ultimately, to advance to the TOUR Championship. The remaining major championship, the PGA Championship at Quail Hollow Club offers 600 points to the winner, and the World Golf Championships-Bridgestone Invitational awards 550 points to the winner. Typically, PGA TOUR events offer 500 FedExCup points to the winner each week. THE NORTHERN TRUST, as well as the other of the first three events of the FedExCup Playoffs, awards 2,000 points to the winner.
THE NORTHERN TRUST will kick off FedExCup Playoffs at the Glen Oaks Club in Old Westbury, New York, August 22-27, 2017. For more information and a behind-the-scenes look at the tournament, visit thenortherntrust.com or follow the tournament on Twitter and Instagram @TheNTGolf, and on Facebook at www.facebook.com/TheNTGolf.
To purchase tickets, please visit www.thenortherntrust.com or call 844-868-7465.