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Justin Thomas had more stress than he needed Sunday before regaining control with four birdies on the back nine at Medinah to win the BMW Championship and claim the No. 1 seed going into the FedEx Cup finale.

Phil Mickelson had a wild Sunday, and that was before he showed up for the BMW Championship.

Justin Thomas opened with five straight birdies, added a pair of eagles and shattered the course record at soft, vulnerable Medinah with an 11-under 61 to take a six-shot lead into the final round of the BMW Championship.

Hideki Matsuyama rode a hot putter to a record score at Medinah, making five birdie putts from 15 feet or longer for a 9-under 63 that gave him a one-shot lead going into the weekend at the BMW Championship.

Even with Canada's Brooke Henderson emerging as a marketable superstar, LPGA Tour commissioner Mike Whan says women's golf needs more exposure to grow the game and close the pay gap with male golfers.

Justin Thomas began the day in a fog and ended his first round Thursday with a record-tying 65 and the lead in the BMW Championship in Medinah, Ill.

Lorie Kane is set to make a record-setting 29th appearance at the CP Women's Open when the golf tournament gets underway later this month at Magna Golf Club.

Patrick Reed rallied from a two-shot deficit with three straight putts on the back nine at Liberty National that allowed him to win The Northern Trust and end 16 months without winning since his Masters title.

Patrick Reed handled the strong gusts and a drier golf course at Liberty National with a 4-under 67 that gave him a one-shot lead over Abraham Ancer of Mexico going into the final round of The Northern Trust.

Masters champion Tiger Woods withdrew Friday from the opening FedEx Cup playoffs event with what he described as a mild oblique strain.