Johnson dominates in Tournament of Champions win

LOS ANGELES: World number one Dustin Johnson powered to an eightshot triumph at the US PGA Tour Tournament of Champions in Hawaii on Sunday (Monday in Manila).

Johnson’s masterful display off Brian Harman, who started the the tee at the par-73 Plantation day two shots behind Johnson Course at Kapalua included a atop the leaderboard, closed with near hole-in-one at the par-four a one-under 72 for sole posses12th hole — where his drive left sion of third place on 277. him a six-inch tap-in for eagle. It was a further stroke back to

He carded an eight-under par 65 Japan’s Hideki Matsuyama (66) for 24-under 268 and his 17th US and Americans Pat Perez (69) and PGA Tour triumph, seemingly imRickie Fowler (70). pervious to the wind and intermitMatsuyama played his last tent rain throughout the round. seven holes in five-under par with

“I knew I was playing well and the aid of an eagle on the par-five it’s a golf course that I’m really 15th, where he landed his apconfident on,” Johnson said. proach shot 10 feet from the pin.

“I’ve really been driving the ball But Johnson had put himself (well) this week,” added the Ameriout of reach of all pursuers in the can, who has a new driver in his elite 34- player event for 2017 bag. “I knew as long as I could keep tournament winners. doing that I was going to play well.” He raced away from the field

Spain’s Jon Rahm was second with four birdies on the front nine. after a 69 for 276 and is projected His only miscue of the day was to rise from number four to at the par-three 11th, where he number three in the world thanks was in a bunker off the tee en to his runner-up finish. route to a bogey.

He responded in magnificent style with his monster drive setting up his eagle at the 12th, and he padded his lead with three straight birdies at 14, 15, and 16.

His eight-shot margin of victory was the biggest of his career.

The win was especially satisfying after his final-round collapse at the HSBC Champions in Shanghai in October, when Johnson led by six through three rounds but stumbled to a closing 77 to finish tied for second behind Justin Rose.

“After China, where I struggled a little bit on Sunday, I didn’t want to back down,” Johnson said. “Even when I made the turn, I think I was 20-under I told myself to get it to 25. I kind of just kept the pedal down.”

Johnson, who seized the world number one ranking last February, has now won at least one US tour title for 11 straight years.

“Obviously I got off to a great start and I want to keep it going,” Johnson said of his 2018 opener. “Things are going in the right direction.”