Johnson strolls to $15m jackpot and sets sights on US Open glory
As strolls to the ultimate cashpoint in golf go then Dustin Johnson’s languid meander last night was almost without wobble. The world No 1 began with a five-shot lead at the Fedex Cup finale at East Lake, saw it whittled down to two on a few occasions, but he was still there at the end, nonchalantly punching in a 68 and a 21-under number.
And so $15 million (£11.4 million) came tumbling out in readies and the 36-year-old at last managed to smile. How could he not? Especially as the money did not mean a thing. Of course.
“I wanted to be a Fedex champion, it’s something in my career I always wanted to be,” he said. “No lead is safe around here, I knew I’d have to play well. I hit the fairways when I needed to, but the guys put up a good fight. Now, a few days off before the next major.”
There can be no doubt that Johnson will be favourite for the US
Open in 12 days’ time. This was the fourth time in Johnson’s past four starts he had held the 54-hole lead and the second time he had converted it into silverware. And, yes, the pure Fedex gold.
Johnson has at last put some daylight between himself and his rivals in the rankings and his ball-striking suggests there is room for much more.
What should truly worry the rest is that he seems determined which, without irony, is not his usual persona.
His father-in-law, the ice-hockey legend Wayne Gretzky, was there in Atlanta watching him and if he has finally got into in his head then, with the Masters taking place in November, it could be very interesting indeed.
Credit to fellow Americans Justin Thomas and Xander Schauffele for at least introducing a few speed bumps into the procession.
Schauffele deserves special mention as, if the scores had started level at the start of the tournament and if there was not a handicapped system on Fedex Cup rankings, he would have won this Tour Championship by two strokes.
But still there was grand consolation for him and Thomas as their 66s for 18-under totals meant they collected $4.5 million each.
Tyrrell Hatton finished seventh and, as he has played only 11 tournaments on the PGA Tour this season, his $4 million in earnings is a remarkable return.
Hatton, 28, would have finished in a tie for third on 10 under without the adjusted scoring and, with his final-round 66, he collected $1.3 million. He has reinforced his position as the top Englishman in the world rankings.
Hatton also finished as the top UK player, with Rory Mcilroy one shot further back after a 67.
Of course, Mcilroy has far more worthy things to celebrate, with his first child Poppy having been born last Monday, but this was his first top-10 finish in more than six months.
Lockdown or not, that must bode well for the 31-year-old’s challenge at Winged Foot. The bogey on the 18th cost him nigh on £200,000. He will not fret.