Boston: Marc Leishman has relinquished a final-round lead to finish third at the US PGA Tour's second play-offs event.
However, the result has lifted Leishman from 20th to seventh in the season-long points race standings.
The 33-year-old Victorian is right in contention for a huge bonus pay day, including the $10 million top prize, with two tournaments remaining in the play-offs.
Leishman's overnight co-leader Justin Thomas, the latest major champion after winning the PGA Championship, made it five victories for the season with a five-under 66 on Monday.
Australia's Marc Leishman is in contention for a big play-off bonus.Credit: AP
The American finished at 17 under to be three shots clear of world No.2 Jordan Spieth (67), who was runner-up for the second consecutive play-offs event.
"I wasn't trying to send a statement," Thomas told Golf Channel. "I was just trying to win a golf tournament."
Thomas moved to No. 4 in the world and appears likely to pip Spieth for PGA Tour player of the year honours.
"We've just had a great year," Thomas said. "Obviously, there are two more events to finish it off."
Leishman, who won the Arnold Palmer Invitiational in March, faltered with five back-nine bogeys to card a one-under 70 at TPC Boston to finish 13 under for the tournament.
That's after he claimed a two-shot lead with six birdies before the turn.
Spaniard John Rahm and Briton Paul Casey were a shot behind Leishman in a tie for fourth.
Jason Day had eight birdies but closed his round with three bogeys to shoot 66 and finish at six under, and a tie for 25th. The Australian world No.9 moved up one spot to 28th in the points standings.
After a one-week break, the top 70 players will tee it up in the penultimate event of the season before the an elite field of just 30 contest the end of season Tour Championship.
Meanwhile, Leishman, Day and Adam Scott are among the automatic qualifiers for the International Team to contest the Presidents Cup.
Japan's world No.3 Hideki Matsuyama and Day, ranked No.9, are the team's only top 10 players. The team also includes South African trio Louis Oosthuizen, Charl Schwartzel and Branden Grace, Venezuelan Jhonattan Vegas, Si Woo Kim of South Korea and Canadian Adam Hadwin.
The US have won nine of the 11 Presidents Cup matches, with one tie, and will be heavily favoured for victory when the 12th edition tees off on September 28 at Liberty National in New Jersey.
Kevin Chappell made his first US Presidents Cup team by 0.073 of a point. Chappell, who won his first PGA Tour event earlier this year in San Antonio, earned enough FedEx Cup points from the second play-off event to secure the 10th and final automatic spot on the US team.
AAP