American Zach Johnson has claimed a two-shot win at the third of four US PGA tour playoff events, while Sydney’s Matt Jones finished a brutal one shot shy of the Tour Championship and an invite to the first three majors of 2014.
Johnson fired a six-under 65 in the rain delayed final round at Conway Farms Golf Club to finish at 16-under par, two shots clear of countryman Nick Watney, who’s 64 left him second alone at 14-under.
Overnight leader Jim Furyk failed to convert in the week of his dazzling 59, settling for an even par 71 to be 13-under and in third place.
Jason Day was the leading Australian in a tie for fourth after he shot an impressive 66 to finish at 11-under, despite suffering from a severe sinus infection.
Jones put together a bogey-free 67 to finish at 10-under in a tie for eighth but needed a 66 to make it to the season ending Tour Championship in Atlanta later this week.
His 10-foot birdie putt on the last hole caught the edge of the cup but brutally lipped out to leave him just shy.
A birdie would have not only progressed him through the playoffs and a chance at the lucrative FedEx Cup but it also ensures invites to the first three majors of 2014, the Masters, US Open and British Open.
The New South Welshman had predicted he’d need to shoot five-under to be fine and it turned out to be on the money.
Johnson started three shots behind third round leader Furyk but notched up six birdies in a blemish free round to blast to his 10th victory on the US PGA tour.
Furyk has now failed to win the last six times he has led into the final round and is just 12 of 27 in his career when holding the lead or co-lead into the final round.
Day was bogey-free on his round but despite the strong result, dropped from the 12th seed to 14th place heading to Atlanta.
Adam Scott closed with a nice 67 to be two-under for the week and tied 28th – good enough to leave him third on the season points list and leave Australia with just the two Queenslanders still alive in the playoffs.
Players inside the top five have their destiny in their own hands given a win at East Lake Golf Club next week guarantees both the Tour Championship title and the season-long FedEx Cup and its lucrative $US10 million ($A10.7 million) bonus.
Tiger Woods and Henrik Stenson will start as the top two seeds in Atlanta, while Johnson and Matt Kuchar make up the other two in the top five behind Scott.
Marc Leishman’s season ended with a final round 69 leaving him tied 39th at even par for the tournament and in 60th place over the year.
He will now have a few weeks off before joining the International team for the Presidents Cup.