Johnson makes it two in a row

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.
Latest
-
News
Sponsor Ralph Lauren drops Justin Thomas following homophobic slur in Hawaii
The world number three uttered the derogatory word towards himself after missing a putt at Kapalua last weekend.
-
News
Bryson DeChambeau keeping brain relaxed to avoid repeat of Masters misery
DeChambeau said his brain went into overdrive at Augusta National.
-
News
European Tour preparing for business as planned in the Middle East
Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship is due to start next week.
-
News
Two-time major champion Angel Cabrera arrested in Brazil
The former US Open and Masters winner was on the run from the law.
-
News
On this Day in 2013: Paul McGinley given Ryder Cup captaincy
McGinley would go on to be involved in a sixth Ryder Cup victory.
-
News
Collin Morikawa keen to draw inspiration from family ties to Hawaii at Sony Open
Venezuela’s Jhonattan Vegas has withdrawn from the event after testing positive for coronavirus.
-
News
R&A: ‘No plans’ for Open to head to Donald Trump-owned Turnberry in near future
Trump National in Bedminster was on Sunday stripped of next year’s US PGA Championship.
-
News
US PGA Championship moved from Donald Trump-owned course in New Jersey
Trump National in Bedminster had been set to host the event.
-
News
Justin Thomas : ‘I made a terrible, terrible judgement call’
Thomas admitted he was distracted by what happened on Saturday during his final round.
-
News
PGA Championship to be moved away from Donald Trump-owned course
It is the second time in six years the PGA has moved an event away from a course owned by Donald Trump.