FedEx Cup comes down to final 30 golfers

Luke Donald faces long odds at the Tour Championship in Atlanta this week. But at least he has a chance.

Donald was one of several golfers who sneaked into the Top 30 in the FedExCup standings and earned a spot in the PGA Tour’s big finale. He needed a strong finish Monday at the BMW Championship.

“There was nerves the last couple holes, probably from 15 onwards,” Donald said. “I knew I had got myself into position where I had a chance.”

The FedEx Cup playoffs are like a big game of musical chairs, with the field narrowing each week and players fighting to stay alive. They all want a shot at the season-ending $10-million bonus.

Donald’s final-round 66 at the BMW was good enough to grab the 29^th spot. Nick Watney’s runner-up finish vaulted him all the way to 12^th.

“I knew I’d need something special,” Watney said.

Not everyone came through. Bubba Watson and Rickie Fowler fell just short. Lee Westwood tumbled from 30^th to 41^st.

Dustin Johnson also struggled, finishing the tournament at 9-over, and was fortunate to hang on for 30^th place in the standings.

Now in its final week, the FedEx Cup is weighted to favor highly ranked players. Tiger Woods, Henrik Stenson and the rest of the Top 5 are guaranteed the bonus money with a victory in Atlanta. But technically, everyone has a chance.

In 2011, Bill Haas entered the championship as the 25^thseed and won it all in a sudden-death playoff victory over Hunter Mahan.

Donald is keeping that in mind. He would need Woods to fall apart and the rest of the Top 6 to falter.

“It’s unlikely,” he said of his situation, “but it’s certainly been done before.”

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