Thomas shows grit to hold off Spieth

If you had been asked to come up with a script for the FedEx Cup Playoffs you would struggle to come up with a better one than that which is unfolding on the PGA Tour.

The Dell Championship was the second of the four FedEx Cup play-off tournaments. It could've been enough for him to want to disassociate from the guy to whom he was so deeply connected that he spent his first few years as a pro being referred to with the prefix "Jordan Spieth's good friend". He reached No. 1 in the world at one point and has since added a third career major, earlier this year at the British Open.

"I just wanted to get myself in a position where I'm at least in range of the leaders", Johnson said Sunday following his round. "And I'd love to make it six or seven wins".

Thomas shot seventeen under par for his last three rounds to catapult himself up the leaderboard and win the tournament by three shots from friend Jordan Spieth in second place and Australian Marc Leishman in third.

Leishman shot 40 on the back nine and wound up four back after a 70.

But Spieth, who finished second at 14 under, shot 2 over on the back nine, leaving the door open for the reigning PGA Championship victor.

There are two FedEx Cup playoff tournaments remaining, including the BMW Championship in two weeks followed by the Tour Championship one week after that.

Thomas and Spieth have been competing against each other since they were 13 and playing junior golf. "Eight through 14 is the meat of the golf course". "So if you are hitting it well, you can get a lot of chances".

FacebookPinterestThomas and Spieth have been competing against each other since they were 13 and playing junior golf

Dustin Johnson played second fiddle to Justin Thomas' masterful third round at the Dell Technologies Championship, but the FedEx Cup points leader was happy to get back into contention.

Leishman saw the lead evaporate with five bogeys on the back side, including three straight from Nos.

Meanwhile, Masters champion Sergio Garcia slammed and broke his putter after leaving an eagle putt woefully short on the fourth hole, but on his next shot, he sunk a 14-foot putt with his three-wood. And then he closed with two bogeys that only cost him money.

Later, after a poor tee shot at the par-three 16th, he received a free drop from a poor lie in heavy rough, because a sprinkler head interfered with his stance.

Thomas carded 66 to finish at 17-under-par 267, while Spieth bogeyed the par-five 18th to shoot 67.

Phil Mickelson led a group of four players tied for sixth at 11 under. He couldn't keep pace.

In a final-round 66, Matsuyama made six birdies against a lone bogey for his lowest score of the tournament, but his 5-under total was not enough to push him higher up the season's points standings as all three players above him - Thomas, Spieth and Dustin Johnson - finished better in MA. But then it all changed when Spieth missed the green at No. 14, did well to hit a flop shot to 15 feet and narrowly missed his par putt.