Jordan Spieth captured the FedExCup two years ago and has his eyes on the prize again.
Spieth carded 6-under-par 64 to take a three-stroke lead over Dustin Johnson to the final round of The Northern Trust, first of four playoff events, at Glen Oaks Club in Old Westbury, N.Y.
“Once you build a lead like I have, you just want to get the speed right on the greens and have stress-free pars,” said Spieth, who has won three times this season, including the Open Championship at Royal Birkdale. “The golf course in firming up, which I think makes it more score-able.
“I’m starting to learn the course and it’s straight-forward, everything is in front of you. The fairways are pretty wide, but you have to drive it straight because the rough is thick. I got away with a couple of bad drives today, made up for them with good putts.
“I had a three-stroke lead going to the final round of the Open and it was gone after four holes. Anything can happen on Sunday.”
Spieth, who overcame two bogeys on the front nine by collecting four birdies on each side, has a 54-hole total of 12-under 198.
Johnson sank a five-foot birdie putt on the final hole to cap a 67.
“I’m doing everything well,” said Johnson, the top-ranked player in the world, two spots ahead of Spieth. “I’m driving it well, controlling the distance on my irons and rolling it well, but I haven’t been able to get many putts to go in.
“Hopefully, they will start going in tomorrow.”
Defending champion Patrick Reed posted a bogey-free 66 and is five shots back in a tie for third with eighth-ranked Jon Rahm of Spain, who totaled 67, Paul Casey of England, who had a 66, and Matt Kuchar, who finished at 68.
Keegan Bradley is another stroke down in solo seventh after a bogey-free 66, while Kevin Chappell of Fresno and UCLA had five birdies down the stretch in a 64 and is seven behind in a tie for eighth with Justin Rose of England, who came in at 69.
PGA champion Justin Thomas recorded a 69 and is nine behind in a tie for 10th with Jason Dufner (68), Bubba Watson (71), Patrick Cantlay (69) of Los Alamitos and UCLA, Chez Reavie (69), first-round leader Russell Henley (70) and third-round co-leader Jhonattan Vegas (72) of Venezuela.
