Justin Rose finished just one stroke short as Adam Scott hung on for victory by one shot at The Barclays in Jersey City.
Scott could only watch from the clubhouse during a dramatic finish as Gary Woodland missed a string of birdie chances, Kevin Chappell's challenge finished in a collapse, Rose three-putted the 18th and Tiger Woods' late rally through the pain barrier fell one shot short.
Scott kept his head while it appeared all around him were losing theirs, carding a bogey-free round of 66 as he moved up to second place in the FedEx Cup standings.
"I am really happy with my game," Scott said. "It was a positive to get back into the mix at the other Majors."
Rose had catapulted himself into contention with four birdies and made his way to the final green in the lead.
But it all went wrong as he three-putted and finished with a round of 68.
Woods had a round of mixed fortunes as he continued to battle back pain, at one point collapsing in agony after taking a shot on the 13th.
That hole was one of three he bogeyed on the back nine, appearing to end his chances, but back-to-back birdies on the 16th and 17th gave him a chance to tie it at the finish.
However, he could only make par as a 27 foot putt missed by around an inch.
"I had a chance," Woods said. "I hit a good putt. I thought I made it. It was a little double-breaker and I thought I had it."
Graeme DeLaet was the fourth man to claim a share of second place, having put together four birdies in the space of five holes at the start of the back nine as part of a round of 65.
Phil Mickelson had by far his best round of the tournament with a 65 giving him a share of sixth, but the final round was marked more by contenders losing ground than gaining it.
Matt Kuchar shared the overnight lead but a round of 78, featuring six bogeys including a seven on the par four ninth, saw him drop all the way to a share of 19th.
Chappell dropped from third to 15th with a round of 76, while Jordan Spieth, David Lynn and Kevin Streetman also tumbled from promising positions.
