Justin Thomas started Round 4 on Monday tied with Marc Leishman at 12 under, having Jordan Spieth, Dustin Johnson and others in hot pursuit. After Leishman and Spieth played the front nine in a combined 60 on Monday, Thomas looked like he was going to be left in their wake, even after shooting a 32 of his own. But those two cooled off, and Thomas shut things down with a strong 34 on the back nine to clear Spieth by three for his fifth PGA Tour win of the season.

 

Thomas got it done this week with every club except the one in his bag that is most lethal -- his driver. Thomas was outside the top 15 in strokes gained with the driver at TPC Boston, but made up for it with his putting, where he finished inside the top five. He also only made two bogeys in 72 holes en route to the victory.

 

The dagger on Monday, if there was one, came on the 15th hole when he stuck his approach from 137 yards and made birdie to go two clear of Spieth. He saved par on No. 16, parred the last two and held a trophy for the fifth time on the season.

 

It also helped that Spieth and Leishman faded after electric starts. Spieth stumbled to a 37 on the back with a bogey at the last, and Leishman unfurled an ugly 40. Thomas cruised just as he's done all season.

 

The win for Thomas is bigger than just his fifth on the season. He's No. 2 in the FedEx Cup and likely sealed the PGA Tour Player of the Year race with this victory.

 

With two playoff events still to play, Thomas has left an indelible print on the 2016-17 season and has just one more mountain left to climb. 

 

Two straight playoff events, two straight runner-up finishes for Spieth.