It was classic Jordan Spieth golf on what his caddie, Michael Greller, called “the least Jordan golf course that we play all year.”

But with some terrific short-game work and arguably one of the best putting rounds of his career, Spieth shot a final-round 67 at Liberty National in Jersey City on Sunday and finished the Northern Trust with a total of 12-under, four shots back of winner Patrick Reed.

“It’s probably one of the worst tracks for my game,” Spieth said. “Overall it was a strong improvement on the mentality side and physical side tee-to-green, even though it may not show up that way.”

Spieth came into the week ranked No. 67 in the FedEx Cup standings, just inside the top 70 who make it to the second leg of the playoffs next week in Chicago. He has had some shaky weekends this year, and after a third-round 74 this week, he gained quite a bit of confidence with Sunday’s scrambling score. That included holing a sand shot on No. 12 (after he missed the green with a wedge), plus deft up-and-downs on the final three holes.

Now the goal is to get into the top 30 and make the Tour Championship at East Lake in Atlanta. Spieth is currently 44th.

“I know the difference of dropping back to 11[-under] versus 12[-under] what that does for my chances next week is big,” Spieth said. “I looked at [the putt on 18] as big as a putt to win a golf tournament because my ultimate goal is to make it to East Lake.”

Adam Scott shot a splendid 65 to get the Australian in at 13-under, good for fifth.

“The story of my year: I just tee off too far back on Sunday to feel like I can win these things,” he said. “And when I have had a good round, someone else has had a better round.”

Joaquin Niemann (6-under), Wyndham Clark (9-under), and Troy Merritt (10-under) were the three players to go from outside the top 70 to inside, while Sergio Garcia, Danny Lee, Matt Wolff and Kevin Streelman all fell out.

The crowds were relatively polite all week, but Jon Rahm scolded a fan who yelled while he was putting on the 18th hole, saying, “What are you doing? Come on.”