Johnson continues hot streak

LAKE FOREST, Ill. – Zach Johnson is having a September to remember, and there’s still one very big week to go.

In one tournament, he made a 25-foot birdie putt on his final hole to earn the last spot on the Presidents Cup team. In the next one, Johnson made a bunch of big putts in the final round of the rain-delayed BMW Championship for a 6-under-par 65 for a two-shot victory over Nick Watney.

Next up?

His win Monday at Conway Farms gave Johnson the No. 4 seed going into the Tour Championship, giving him a clear shot at the FedEx Cup and its $10 million prize.

“It’s hard to grasp the last two weeks of golf,” Johnson said. “It’s not like you have to win every week to win that FedEx Cup. You’ve just got to win at the right times, or play well at the right times. And I like the momentum I have for next week.”

Johnson’s 10th career win came at the expense of Jim Furyk, who endured another dose of final-round disappointment. Furyk, who had a record-tying 59 Friday and a one-shot lead, has failed to win the last six times he had at least a share of the lead going into the last round. He holed a 12-foot birdie putt at No. 10 to build a two-shot lead, but played the last eight holes in 2-over and wound up with a 71 to finish alone in third.

Luke Donald, who was No. 54 in the FedEx Cup, ran off four straight birdies on the back nine, atoned for a bogey on No. 16 with a birdie on 17, and then saved par from a bunker on the 18th hole for a 66 to tie for fourth and move up to No. 29 to get him into East Lake.

The FedEx Cup points will be reset, meaning the top five only have to win the Tour Championship to capture the Cup. Tiger Woods will be the No. 1 seed, though he doesn’t go there with much momentum. He closed with a 71 and tied for 11th, seven shots behind.