American golfer Patrick Cantlay wins the BMW Championship golf tournament at Wilmington Country Club in Wilmington, U.S., August 21, 2022. /CFP
Defending FedEx Cup playoff champion Patrick Cantlay of the U.S. won his second consecutive BMW Championship on Sunday, becoming the first player to successfully defend a PGA Tour playoff title.
World No. 4 Cantlay recovered from a two-stroke deficit on the back nine to defeat compatriot Scott Stallings thanks to a key break and clutch putting.
Cantlay fired a two-under par 69 to finish 72 holes at Wilmington Country Club in Delaware on 14-under 270 and edge Stallings by a stroke.
"I played a lot of great golf this week and I'm happy to come out of here with a win," Cantlay said.
"I was glad not to go six holes in a playoff," Cantlay said, referring to his unlikely playoff win last year at Caves Valley over Bryson DeChambeau.
Cantlay could also become the first to repeat as FedEx Cup champion next week in the season-ending Tour Championship in Atlanta.
American golfer Patrick Cantlay plays his shot from the 15th tee during the final round of the BMW Championship at Wilmington Country Club in Wilmington, U.S., August 21, 2022. /CFP
World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler, who shared third with Tokyo Olympic champion Xander Schauffele on 273, will start next week at East Lake at 10-under par with a two-stroke lead over Cantlay.
The reigning Masters champion will also have a staggered margin over the rest of a 30-player field chasing the FedEx Cup playoff title that Cantlay hopes to defend.
Cantlay, 30, won his eighth career PGA title and second of the year after sharing the Zurich Classic pairs title with Schauffele.
"I guess that's the beauty of the FedEx Cup playoffs the way they are. You can scratch it around a lot for the year and have a couple good weeks and get heavily rewarded by getting to East Lake and being in that top 30 and all the perks that come with it," Australian golfer Adam Scott said.
(With input from agencies)