Patrick Cantlay produced a late surge at East Lake, carding four birdies in his final five holes to post a 64 and grab a share of the Tour Championship lead at 16 under, with Tommy Fleetwood right alongside him after a 67 that also left him at 16 under. The pair moved ahead of the field, with a two-shot gap to Russell Henley in third as the event heads into a dramatic final round.
Cantlay’s back nine was a killer, a 31 that left him in prime position to chase a second Tour Championship title. Fleetwood, who has been pressing for his first win on American soil, looked set to take the momentum into Sunday until a miscue at the 15th—water from the tee and a double bogey—tested his resolve. He recovered with birdies at 16 and 17, but ultimately could not shake Cantlay, who kept the pressure on through the closing holes.
Fleetwood spoke about the significance of being in contention late on the weekend, saying, “You want to be in the final group on Sunday or you want to be in contention. I love the fact that I’m playing so well. I love the fact that I’m getting rewarded for my work by being in this position because we all grind so hard, we all practise so hard, but it’s been so long where you don’t get out of it what you put in. Golf just isn’t like that. I love that I’m up there again, and it’s just another chance. It’s another opportunity. It’s another day where I get to go out and do what I love and enjoy it and be in contention and just go and hit the golf shots. We’re trying to win a golf tournament and do something very special.”
Cantlay’s strong form also reinforces his standing as a near-certainty for Ryder Cup captain’s picks. The American is widely expected to be selected as a captain’s pick on Wednesday, and adding Tour Championship glory would only bolster that position. On the other side of the platform, Bradley’s 63 to move to 13 under adds intrigue about whether he will be asked to soldier through Bethpage as a playing captain, a distinction not seen since Arnold Palmer in 1963 if he were to win or push for a high finish.
Other notes from the round: Rory McIlroy hit the water at the 15th and three-putted the final for a bogey, dropping to six under, while Scottie Scheffler shot a 66 to sit at 12 under. Robert MacIntyre’s challenge faded with a 72, leaving him eight off the lead.
As the final round looms, the stage is set for a high-stakes finish that could shape both the Tour Championship trophy and future Ryder Cup selections. The prospect of Cantlay and Fleetwood squaring off on Sunday, each chasing a long-awaited win on American soil, adds an extra layer of drama to what already promises to be a memorable conclusion at East Lake.
Summary: Cantlay and Fleetwood share the 16-under lead at East Lake heading into the final round, with Bradley close behind in the hunt and Ryder Cup implications.front and center as Cantlay again muscled into contention. McIlroy, Scheffler, and MacIntyre remain in the mix, ensuring a dramatic finish is nearly certain.