Stenson Rolls to Victory in Tour Championship & FedEx Cup


Fredrik Stenson hung tough Sunday at East Lake Golf Club in Atlanta. The 37-year-old Swede carded a 2-under 68 to roll to victory in the Tour Championship.

Beginning the final round with a four-stroke lead over Dustin Johnson, Stenson carded three birdies and a bogey for a closing 68 to end up at 13-under 267, three shots ahead of Steve Stricker and Jordan Spieth, who shot 65 and 64, respectively.

In addition to earning $1.44 million for the Tour Championship, Stenson finished No. 1 in the FedEx Cup to take home an additional $10 million. He became the first European ever to win the Tour Championship or the FedEx Cup and the fourth straight Tour Championship winner to also take the Cup.

Stenson said the victory this week, in which he posted four under-par rounds of 64, 69, 69 and 68, stemmed from excellent play that started when he finished tied for third in the Scottish Open in July.

"Since the Scottish Open and Open Championship, it's been an incredible run," he said. "I don't know what to say. I'm speechless. To hang in the way I did, I'm really satisfied."

The lanky Gothenburg native, who now resides in Orlando, made some spectacular sand saves coming home. Always ready with a quip, Stenson noted during the awards ceremony, "I lived in Dubai and I'm pretty good out of the sand."

Over his career he's endured a couple of lows, one of which saw him plummet to 242nd in the world golf rankings. "I think it shows you should never give up and always try harder," he said.

Webb Simpson fired the tournament's low round, a 7-under 63, to rise into solo fourth at 271, while another stroke back was Johnson, who shot 69.

The 20-year-old Spieth, a rookie from Dallas who won his first Tour title at the John Deere Classic, again put on an impressive display Sunday. "It's been a dream come true," he said of his season.

Reigning U.S. Open champion Justin Rose carded a 67 to take sixth at 273, and tied for seventh at 274 were Billy Horschel and Zach Johnson (no relation to Dustin), who both closed with 68s.

Roberto Castro (65), PGA champion Jason Dufner (65) and Sergio Garcia (67) shared ninth at 275, while in 12th were Keegan Bradley (67) and Phil Mickelson (68).

Jim Furyk (66), Jason Day (67), Adam Scott (69) and Nick Watney (70) were in 14th at 277, and at 278 were Brendon de Jonge (65) and Luke Donald (71). Sharing 20th at 279 were 2012 Tour and FedEx Cup champion Brandt Snedeker (68) and Hunter Mahan (69).

Tiger Woods, who entered the Tour Championship with a slight lead in the FedEx Cup over Stenson, carded his second straight under-par round on the weekend with a 67 to tie Gary Woodland (72) for 22nd at even-par 280.

Rounding out the 30-player leaderboard were Kevin Streelman (67) and Bill Haas (74) at 282; Matt Kuchar (71) and D.A. Points (74) at 283; Graham DeLaet (73) at 284; Charl Schwartzel (66) at 290; and Boo Weekley (74) in last place at 292.

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