• Deutsche Bank Championship, Round Four

McIlroy hangs on to top FedEx Cup standings

Rory McIlroy lines up a putt © Getty Images

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Rory McIlroy survived a late wobble as he secured victory in the Deutsche Bank Championship on Monday to move to the top of the FedEx Cup standings.

The US PGA champion fired a closing round 67 at TPC Boston to clinch his third title of the year by a single stroke from Louis Oosthuizen, who narrowly missed a birdie putt to force a play-off.

McIlroy trailed overnight leader Oosthuizen by three shots heading into the final round, but was at his belligerent best as he reduced the deficit with two birdies in his opening three holes.

Oosthuizen was in sparkling form as he carded a stunning 63 on Sunday, but was unable to get out of the blocks as quickly with three early pars as he saw his overnight lead evaporate.

The 2010 Open champion made his first birdie at the fourth but was kept in check by McIlroy, who also made a birdie, having missed out on an eagle after his bunker shot hit the pin and rolled away. Despite a bogey at the fifth, McIlroy moved level after Oosthuizen faltered on his bogey putt and was forced to settle for a double bogey.

The Ulsterman soon found himself out in front as he birdied the sixth, and doubled his advantage after picking up another shot at the eighth to reach the turn in 32.

Oosthuizen, chasing his first title on US soil, kept his hopes of victory alive with two birdies on the back nine to put the pressure on McIlroy, who wobbled with a bogey at the 17th to make for a nervy finish.

When his birdie putt at 18 teetered agonisingly on the edge of the cup but failed to drop, it opened the door for Oosthuizen, but the South African was unable to steer his 12-foot birdie putt in to force a play-off.

"That was more survival on those last few holes," McIlroy admitted. "I didn't finish the way I would have liked but I got there in the end so I am very happy."

McIlroy's victory sees him leapfrog leader Nick Watney at the top of the FedEx Cup standings after the American finished well off the pace on six-under.

Tiger Woods sits in third after he finished third in Norton on 18-under. Woods started the day six shots off the lead, but despite a bogey-free round of 66, could not reel in the front pair as he finished two shots off the pace.

Phil Mickelson moved up the leaderboard after his round of 66 which featured six birdies and a single bogey to share fourth place with Dustin Johnson who shot a 70. Brandt Snedeker finished a shot further back on 13-under, while Adam Scott matched Mickelson's 66 to finish two shots behind on 12-under.

Lee Westwood was the top Englishman in the field, finishing on eight-under after a final round 68, while Padraig Harrington makes it through to next week's BMW Championship after he shot a 67 to finish at two-over for the tournament.

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