Louis Oosthuizen and Erik van Rooyen cash in BIG time at FedEx Cup playoffs!

Patrick Cantlay held off top-ranked Jon Rahm to win the PGA Tour’s Tour Championship on Sunday and claim the $15 million (R214 million) FedEx Cup playoffs top prize.

READ | PGA TOUR TO CLAMP DOWN ON ‘BROOKSIE’ TAUNTS TOWARDS BRYSON DECHAMBEAU

Cantlay two-putted for birdie at the par-five 18th to cap a one-under-par 69 that gave him a 21-under-par total and a one-shot victory over Spain’s Rahm, who made the second birdie of his two-under 68 at the final hole to finish on 20-under.

“I played great today. It hasn’t even sunk in yet,” Cantlay said. 

“I just kept telling myself to focus and lock in and I did a great job of that today.”

READ | RORY MCILROY VOWS HE’LL BE READY FOR RYDER CUP

While Cantlay had said throughout that he was trying to approach each round as usual and tune out the prospect of a monster payday, he admitted that it wasn’t just another week.

“It was tough,” he said.

“It was definitely different than any other week.

“It was the longest lead I’ve ever held. But I just tried to stay, day after day in the present, and I did an amazing job of that this week because the last couple days I made some mistakes I don’t usually make and I was able to really center myself and hit a lot of good shots when I needed to.”

MUST READ | GARY PLAYER PAYS TOUCHING TRIBUTE AFTER WIFE’S TRAGIC PASSING

Cantlay came into the tournament staked to a two-shot lead – and a four-stroke advantage over Rahm – under the staggered scoring system that awarded the 30 starters strokes based on their place in the playoff standings.

He led every day, with Rahm pushing hard but unable to get past him.

READ | PHIL MICKELSON AND FRED COUPLES NAMED USA RYDER CUP VICE-CAPTAINS

Cantlay’s third bogey of the day at the par-four 17th saw his lead shrink to one, the American doing well to limit the damage after going right off the tee from where his second shot bounced through the green.

He responded with a booming drive up the middle of the fairway at the par-five 18th, where he two-putted for birdie from 11 feet.

Rahm pushed to the bitter end, his second shot at 18 tracking the pin only to bounce through the green and into the greenside rough from where he got up and down for birdie.

Rahm’s only other birdie was a tap-in at the fifth hole.

“A couple shots I keep going back, that stretch of 10, 11, 12, I was in position to put a little bit of pressure and I just didn’t,” Rahm said.

“But at the same time, I shot my lowest score ever for four days on this golf course, which has usually been a challenge for me.”

In fact, Rahm’s 72-hole total of 266 was actually three shots lower than Cantlay’s 269.

But the Spaniard went into the event four adrift in the staggered start system.

Asked if he felt “in his heart of hearts” that he had won the tournament, Rahm said “No.

“Because I didn’t,” he said.

“That’s the reason why we have this system we have. In scoring when they show you the sheets and points, it felt really weird to have this feeling of disappointment of not winning on a day you are making $5 million.

“Then I’m thinking, you know, yeah, I gave it my all. It wasn’t enough.”

And Rahm said Cantlay – who was atop the FedEx Cup standings after an epic playoff win over Bryson DeChambeau at last week’s BMW Championship – had earned the victory.

“Patrick played great golf, and he was four shots ahead of me, and even though I might have been the better man over the week, he earned it.

“He played amazing,” Rahm said.

“That up-and-down after missing from 17, the second shot from 18 to almost make it is even more impressive.

“I think you can say he won this. He played amazing golf.”

American Kevin Na finished alone in third after a closing 67 that put him at 16-under par.

Former FedEx Cup champion Justin Thomas fired a two-under 70 to finish fourth on 15-under.

Meanwhile, South Africa’s Louis Oosthuizen finished in a tie for 14th and took home $583,750 (R8.3 million) while Erik van Rooyen banked $466,667 (R6.65 million) for his tie for 22nd place finish.

Leading final-round scores on Sunday in the PGA Tour’s Tour Championship at East Lake in Atlanta, Georgia (USA unless noted, par-70. Players began at even to 10-under par based on season points):

21-under
Patrick Cantlay 67-66-67-69

20-under
Jon Rahm (ESP) 65-65-68-68

16-under
Kevin Na 66-67-66-67

15-under
Justin Thomas 67-67-65-70

14-under
Xander Schauffele 68-69-67-64
Viktor Hovland (NOR) 66-68-70-65

13-under
Bryson DeChambeau 69-67-72-66

11-under
Dustin Johnson 68-69-68-67

10-under
Abraham Ancer (MEX) 69-70-65-70
Billy Horschel 65-68-67-70

8-under
Daniel Berger 72-69-67-64
Tony Finau 72-67-73-68
Jason Kokrak 67-68-72-67

2021 FedEx Cup final prize money payouts:

1. Patrick Cantlay — $15,000,000

2. Jon Rahm — $5,000,000

3. Kevin Na — $4,000,000

4. Justin Thomas — $3,000,000

T5. Xander Schauffele — $2,200,000

T5. Viktor Hovland — $2,200,000

7. Bryson DeChambeau — $1,300,000

8. Dustin Johnson — $1,100,000

T9. Abraham Ancer — $890,000

T9. Billy Horschel — $890,000

T11. Daniel Berger — $705,000

T11. Tony Finau — $705,000

T11. Jason Kokrak — $705,000

T14. Rory McIlroy — $583,750

T14. Sergio Garcia — $583,750

T14. Cameron Smith — $583,750

T14. Louis Oosthuizen — $583,750

T18. Harris English — $527,500

T18. Sam Burns — $527,500

T20. Sungjae Im — $497,500

T20. Jordan Spieth — $497,500

T22. Erik van Rooyen — $466,667

T22. Corey Conners — $466,667

T22. Scottie Scheffler — $466,667

25. Patrick Reed — $445,000

T26. Hideki Matsuyama — $425,000

T26. Stewart Cink — $425,000

T26. Collin Morikawa — $425,000

29. Joaquin Niemann — $405,000

30. Brooks Koepka — $395,000

31. K.H. Lee — $200,000

32. Charley Hoffman — $195,000

33. Alex Noren — $190,000

34. Si Woo Kim — $186,000

35. Max Homa — $183,000

36. Hudson Swafford — $181,000

37. Cam Davis — $179,000

38. Kevin Kisner — $177,000

39. Keegan Bradley — $175,000

40. Webb Simpson — $173,000

41. Brian Harman — $171,000

42. Marc Leishman — $169,000

43. Cameron Tringale — $168,000

44. Harold Varner III — $167,000

45. Shane Lowry — $166,000

46. Lucas Glover — $165,000

47. Matt Jones — $164,000

48. Carlos Ortiz — $163,000

49. Aaron Wise — $162,000

50. Lee Westwood — $161,000

51. Charl Schwartzel — $160,000

52. Paul Casey — $159,000

53. Sebastián Muñoz — $158,000

54. Tom Hoge — $157,000

55. Branden Grace — $156,000

56. Russell Henley — $155,000

57. Cameron Champ — $154,000

58. Maverick McNealy — $153,000

59. Emiliano Grillo — $152,000

60. Robert Streb — $151,000

61. Jhonattan Vegas — $150,000

62. Chris Kirk — $150,000

63. Patton Kizzire — $150,000

64. Kevin Streelman — $150,000

65. Keith Mitchell — $150,000

66. Harry Higgs — $140,000

67. Mackenzie Hughes — $140,000

68. Talor Gooch — $140,000

69. Ryan Palmer — $140,000

70. Phil Mickelson — $140,000

71. Matthew Wolff — $110,000

72. Seamus Power — $110,000

73. Matt Fitzpatrick — $110,000

74. Tyrrell Hatton — $110,000

75. Martin Laird — $110,000

76. Joel Dahmen — $110,000

77. Ian Poulter — $110,000

78. Troy Merritt — $110,000

79. J.T. Poston — $110,000

80. Pat Perez — $110,000

81. Bubba Watson — $110,000

82. Andrew Putnam — $110,000

83. Doug Ghim — $110,000

84. Brandon Hagy — $110,000

85. Adam Long — $110,000

86. Peter Malnati — $105,000

87. Wyndham Clark — $105,000

88. Adam Schenk — $105,000

89. Lanto Griffin — $105,000

90. Adam Scott — $105,000

91. Kramer Hickok — $105,000

92. Brian Stuard — $105,000

93. Henrik Norlander — $105,000

94. Doc Redman — $105,000

95. Brian Gay — $105,000

96. Roger Sloan — $105,000

97. Brandt Snedeker — $105,000

98. Hank Lebioda — $105,000

99. Tyler McCumber — $105,000

100. Denny McCarthy — $105,000

101. Brendon Todd — $101,000

102. Luke List — $101,000

103. Adam Hadwin — $101,000

104. Chez Reavie — $101,000

105. Brendan Steele — $101,000

106. Sepp Straka — $101,000

107. Garrick Higgo — $101,000

108. James Hahn — $101,000

109. Zach Johnson — $101,000

110. Russell Knox — $101,000

111. Matt Wallace — $101,000

112. Sam Ryder — $101,000

113. Gary Woodland — $101,000

114. Jason Day — $101,000

115. Matthew NeSmith — $101,000

116. Scott Piercy — $101,000

117. Kyle Stanley — $101,000

118. Anirban Lahiri — $101,000

119. Dylan Frittelli — $101,000

120. Richy Werenski — $101,000

121. C.T. Pan — $101,000

122. Matt Kuchar — $101,000

123. Brice Garnett — $101,000

124. Scott Stallings — $101,000

125. Chesson Hadley — $101,000

126. Justin Rose — $70,000

127. Ryan Armour — $70,000

128. Patrick Rodgers — $70,000

129. Bo Hoag — $70,000

130. Camilo Villegas — $70,000

131. Nate Lashley — $70,000

132. Michael Thompson — $70,000

133. Rory Sabbatini — $70,000

134. Rickie Fowler — $70,000

135. Cameron Percy — $70,000

136. Austin Cook — $70,000

137. Tommy Fleetwood — $70,000

138. Chase Seiffert — $70,000

139. Charles Howell III — $70,000

140. Vincent Whaley — $70,000

141. Nick Taylor — $70,000

142. Francesco Molinari — $70,000

143. Mark Hubbard — $70,000

144. Ryan Moore — $70,000

145. Michael Gligic — $70,000

146. Joseph Bramlett — $70,000

147. Bo Van Pelt — $70,000

148. Beau Hossler — $70,000

149. Vaughn Taylor — $70,000

150. Satoshi Kodaira — $70,000