Potter outduels Johnson at Pebble Beach
Ted Potter Jr. outplayed the world No. 1 and held off everyone else Sunday to win the AT&T Pebble Beach National for his first victory since a broken ankle nearly ended his career.
Potter holed a chip from behind the green for birdie on the par-3 seventh hole to build a two-shot lead over Dustin Johnson, and no one got any closer the rest of the way. He finished with 11 straight pars for a 3-under 69 and a threeshot victory over Johnson, Phil Mickelson, Jason Day and Chez Reavie.
Potter was unflappable playing alongside Johnson, who next week will complete one full year at No. 1 in the world. That changed when he tapped in for par on the 18th hole, and he choked back the emotion of a week he won’t soon forget.
He stepped off a curb in Montreal in August 2014 and broke his ankle, keeping him out of golf for two years and then back to the minor leagues a year ago.
“It’s been a struggle,” he said. “You break your ankle and you don’t know what’s going to happen with your swing, with your career. It’s unbelievable right now. This has been a blast this week.”
Potter earns a trip back to the Masters for the first time in five years. He finished at 17-under 270 and earned US$1,332,000, nearly half of his career earnings going into the week.
It was another disappointment for Johnson going into the final round. He has won five out of 12 times when he took at least a share of the 54-hole lead into the final round.
Johnson lost a good birdie chance when his flip wedge found a bunker on No. 4. He hit his worst shot of the week on the tee at No. 5, which sailed right and over the cliff and forced him to make a good upand-down to escape with bogey.
“A few iron shots cost me a few bogeys,” said Johnson, who played Pebble in 70-72 on the weekend.
All six Canadians in the field failed to make the cut for Sunday ’s final round. Mike Weir was the top Canadian, missing Saturday’s cut by one stroke.