Dustin Johnson finally blinked and Kevin Chappell took advantage.
Johnson, who has been playing brilliantly for months, blew a four-stroke lead on the back nine and had to sink a five-foot birdie putt on the last hole to tie Chappell for the top spot after three rounds of the Tour Championship at East Lake Golf Club in Atlanta.
Chappell (pictured), from Fresno and UCLA, posted a 2-under-par 68, while Johnson had a 69 that included a double bogey 6 on the 17th hole, and they were even at 8-under 202 for 54 holes.
“I thought I played pretty well, just a couple of loose drives on the back side,” said Johnson, the FedEx Cup points leader who is No. 2 in the World Golf Rankings after winning three of his last eight tournaments.
“Other than that, I thought the round was pretty solid. I missed a few good opportunities for birdie on 8, 9 and 2, but otherwise, I felt like I hit good putts. They just didn’t go in.”
Chappell, who was tied for the lead with DJ after a first-round 66, birdied the first 11 holes before making birdies on the 12th and 17th holes.
The 30-year-old, whose only pro victory came at the 2010 Fresh Express Classic at TPC Stonebrae in Hayward on the Web.com Tour, has finished second three times this year and five times in his career.
“I’m proud of the way I stuck it out and the end of the front nine and then chipped in on No. 12, which got me fired up a little bit,” said Chappell, who played alongside Johnson and will do so again in the final round.
“(DJ) is comfortable to play with because he plays fast. … I’m looking forward to the opportunity (to win on Sunday.”
Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland birdied three of the last six holes to shoot 66 and was two shots back in a tie for third with Ryan Moore, who birdied four of the first seven holes and also had a 66.
Hideki Matsuyama of Japan carded a 68 and was three strokes back in fifth, followed another shot behind by Jason Dufner, who birdied five of the last seven holes on the front nine in a 66.
Paul Casey of England, who finished second in the last two FedEx Cup events and is fifth in the standings, totaled 69 and is five back in a tie for seventh with Charl Schwartzel of South Africa, who eagled the sixth and seventh holes in a 66.
Justin Thomas is six down in solo ninth following a 69, and rookie Emiliano Grillo of Argentina is another shot back in 10th after a 66.
Bubba Watson, trying to earn the final spot on the United States Ryder Cup team, rallied with a 66 finish in a tie for 14th that included Adam Scott of Australia, who had a 71, while Jordan Spieth is tied for 18th after a 72, Patrick Reed recorded a 70 and is tied for 20th, and Phil Mickelson is tied for 26th following a 69.
