The Fed-Ex Cup playoffs are underway on the PGA Tour, and for the fifth time in 2020 we have a new world number one. Dustin Johnson became the third player in PGA Tour history to shoot -30 after 72 holes. Johnson absolutely dominated the field at the Northern Trust in Norton, Mass. just outside Boston.
Johnson shot 67-60-64-63 for a 254 total on the par 71 course to win by 11 shots over Harrison English. It was only the third time in PGA Tour history that a player reached the magic number -30 or better. Ernis Els shot -31 in 2003 at Kapalua, and Jordan Spieth -30 in 2016, also on the Island of Kapalua.
The victory was career-win number 22 for Johnson; only Tiger Woods’ 36 wins over the last 15 years on tour is better. The top 70 players in the Northern Trust Sunday advanced in the playoffs to Chicago. The Northern Trust started with 125 players, 55 of whom failed to survive and advance.
Johnson failed to make the cut here in Minnesota five weeks ago at the 3M Open at the TPC in Blaine. Two weeks ago he finished second to Collin Morikawa after leading after 54 holes in the PGA Championship at Harding Park in San Francisco. Next week the Fed-Ex Cup playoffs continue in Chicago at Olympia Fields, the BMW Championship with only the top 70 players.
The top 30 players that survive from Chicago advance to East Lake in Atlanta for the Tour Championship where the winner gets $15 million and the title of Fed Ex Cup Champion.
Larry Fitzgerald is a longstanding contributing columnist at the Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder. He can be heard weekday mornings on KMOJ Radio 89.9 FM at 8:25 am, on WDGY-AM 740 Monday and Friday at 9:10 am, and at www.Gamedaygold.com. He also commentates on sports 7-8 pm on “Almanac” (TPT channel 2). Follow him on Twitter at FitzBeatSr. Larry welcomes reader responses to info@larry-fitzgerald.com, or visit www.Larry-Fitzgerald.com.