DUSTIN MASTER OF OWN DESTINY
DUSTIN Johnson proved to himself he can hold a lastday lead to win a major, taking the Masters title he most desired. And the world No. 1 is just getting started.
Johnson delivered an impressive closing Sunday at Augusta National to win in record fashion, handling the tension to set a Masters 72hole record of 20- under 268 with a final- round 68 for a five- stroke triumph.
“Growing up so close to
here, since I played my first Masters, it’s been the tournament I wanted to win the most,” he said. “This one was just something that I really wanted to do.”
After going winless in four majors with a lead entering the last round, the kid who grew up an hour’s drive away now wears a green jacket.
“I proved I can get it done on Sunday with the lead at a major, especially in tough conditions,” he said. “I
proved to myself I do have it. There were doubts in my mind, just because I had been there. I’m in this position a lot of times.
“Like, when am I going to have the lead and finish off a major? It proved I can do it.”
Johnson, whose only other major title came at the 2016 US Open, sees the door open for more success after his Masters breakthrough.
“I dream of winning a lot of majors,” he said. “Just had
not quite happened yet. Hopefully this one will help give me a little spring.
“The first major’s the hardest, but then I would say the second one is just as hard. They’re all difficult to win. It’s just hard to get it done in a major for some reason.
“So it’s very nice to have a lead and then play well on Sunday and get the win. I couldn’t be more happy and I think I look pretty good in green, too.”