Johnson makes it two in a row

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February 15, 2010

Dustin Johnson won the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am for the second year in succession with a three-foot putt at the last.

Dustin Johnson won the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am for the second year in succession when he sunk a three-foot putt on the final green.
His birdie at the 18th took him out of a three-way tie with David Duval and JB Holmes to lift the title despite carding a final round 74 on a day of indifferent scoring.
Dustin Johnson won the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am for the second year in succession when he sunk a three-foot putt on the final green.

But it was close.So close. He needed a birdie at the 18th to take him out of a three-way tie with David Duval and JB Holmes and claim the title despite carding a final round 74 on a day of indifferent scoring.

Knowing what he had to do, Johnson stood on the tee box of the famous 18th hole at Pebble Beach, looked at the waves crashing along most of its left flank and said:”Yes, it’s such a gorgeous hole, alright, but if you miss it a little left, it’s not so pretty.”

But he didn’t miss.

His power off the tee enabled him to find a green side bunker in two at this tough par-five from where he calmly chipped out close enough to make the easy birdie he so badly needed to avoid a play-off. Then he slowly raised his arms in triumph and relief.
Later, clearly weary after a tense final round, he said: “”All you can ask for is a chance to win on the last hole – and I got that, thank goodness.”
At the start of the day, Johnson held the joint overnight lead with playing partner Paul Goydos with the pair four strokes clear of the chasing pack which included Holmes.
Duval at that stage was a further two adrift.
Goydos was out in level par to take the lead outright with Johnson dropping a shot at the opening hole, and while he eagled the sixth he gave both shots back by double-bogeying the ninth when he missed from less than three feet.
Duval, a former World No 1 who has been without a victory since his Open Championship win at Lytham in 2001, made steady headway through the field though, birdies at 11 and 13 taking him to three under for the day.
The leaders continued to falter, Johnson dropping another shot at the 12th while Goydos had a meltdown at the difficult 14th, running up a nine that took him right out of contention – this after twice failing to reach the putting surface from the fringe.
Duval holed from 10 feet at the 17th to get to 15-under and with Holmes reaching the same mark with a tap-in birdie a hole behind, Johnson was feeling the pressure.
He failed to get up and down from some sand at 17, but with both Duval and Holmes missing birdie attempts at the final hole, the defending champion knew a four at the last would give him the title once again.
And with his superior length from the tee he was able to find the greenside bunker in two at the par-five, and this time he chipped out to easy birdie range and confidently holed the putt to claim a third title on the PGA Tour.
Phil Mickelson went round in 71 to finish in a tie for eighth while Luke Donald and Padraig Harrington showed solid form on the course that will host the US Open later this year, the Ryder Cup duo finishing on nine under par for a share of 16th.

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