By: Ron Green Jr. of Global Golf Post

Marc Leishman’s wire-to-wire victory at the BMW Championship set the storyline for the final chapter of the FedEx Cup playoffs at the Tour Championship in Atlanta this week.

With his victory at Conway Farms Golf Club, the 33-year-old Australian put himself in fourth place in the points race, meaning a victory at East Lake Golf Club also would win the FedEx Cup for him. The top five in points – Jordan Spieth, Justin Thomas, Dustin Johnson, Leishman and Jon Rahm – automatically win the FedEx Cup by winning the Tour Championship.

Leishman did his best work in the first two days, making 18 birdies in his first 36 holes to force the rest of the field to chase him during the weekend. Unlike two weeks ago at the Dell Technologies Championship, where Leishman shot 40 on the final nine to cost himself a chance to win, he was rock solid at Conway Farms.

“There were a few scars from two weeks ago,” Leishman said. “I was really determined not to let that happen again.”

While Leishman went about his business in the final round, Jason Day and Justin Rose made the most serious runs at his lead though neither got closer than two strokes.

Leishman’s third career PGA Tour victory and second this year was projected to elevate him into the top 15 in the world ranking. It also was reassuring to International team captain Nick Price to have another player in top form with the Presidents Cup on the horizon.

Behind Leishman, there was plenty of movement involving players trying to lock down a spot among the top 30 to advance to East Lake. As it played out, Patrick Cantlay made a 10-foot birdie putt on the 72nd hole to secure the 29th spot and leave Jason Dufner at No. 30, eliminating Loius Oosthuizen by less than one full point.

Henrik Stenson, Phil Mickelson, and Rory McIlroy were among the top players failing to advance. McIlroy became the eight defending FedEx Cup champion in 10 years to fail to reach the Tour Championship.

Driver: Callaway GBB Epic (9 degrees)
Shaft: Fujikura Speeder 757 Evolution II (X-Flex)

Fairway Woods: Callaway GBB Epic (15 degrees), Callaway XR Steelhead (21 degrees)
Shaft: Fujikura Motore Speeder VC Tour Spec 9.2X

Driving Iron: Callaway Apex UT (21 degrees)
Shafts: Nippon N.S. Pro Modus3 Tour 130X

Irons: Callaway Apex Pro ’16 (4-PW)
Shafts: Nippon N.S. Pro Modus3 Tour 130X

Wedges: Callaway Mack Daddy Forged (54 degrees), Titleist Vokey SM6 (58-08 M Grind)
Shafts: Nippon N.S. Pro Modus3 Tour 130X

Putter: Odyssey Versa 1W (BWB)

Golf Ball: Callaway Chrome Soft X

Republished with permission by Global Golf Post.