DUSTIN JOHNSON WINS AT KAPALUA
K A PALUA ,H AWA II» A new year brought out the best in Dustin Johnson, who powered his way to an 8-under65 and an eight-shot victory Sunday in the Sentry Tournament of Champions.
In a field that featured the top five players in the world, Johnson made a strong opening statement that a No. 1 ranking he has held for nearly a year might be difficult to take away.
Johnson stretched a twoshot lead to six shots at the turn, then delivered the biggest moment of the week with a drive on the par-4 12th hole that stopped only 6 inches from the cup for a tap-in eagle. He also drove the par-4 14th hole.
He finished at 24-under 268. The eight-shot margin of victory was his largest ever, and it was one short of the tournament record set by David Duval since this event moved to Kapalua in 1999. Jordan Spieth also won by eight shots in 2016.
“I knew I was playing well, and it’s a golf course I’m really comfortable on,” Johnson said. “I was really driving it well this week. I knew as long as I could keep doing that, I was going to do well.”
Jon Rahm made his Kapalua debut by closing with a 69 to finish second. The 23-year-old from Spain moved to No. 3 in the world.
The way Johnson was playing, everyone was playing for second.
“It’s no easy task,” said Rahm, who lost to Johnson in the final of Match Play a year ago.
Johnson won for the 17th time on the PGA Tour, and the fifth time dating to the Genesis Open at Riviera last February. He has 11 straight seasons of winning at least one tournament, the longest current streak on the PGA Tour.
He lost a six-shot lead in the final round of the HSBC Champions in Shanghai last fall, his most recent PGA Tour start. It crossed his mind only when it was mentioned to him Saturday. Johnson doesn’t let much cross his mind.
“I try to forget everything,” he said. “Whether I win or lose.”
And then he produced another memorable round.
He had a two-shot lead over Brian Harman, who struggled mightily with his speed on the greens and fell back quickly. Johnson effectively ended the tournament when he made three birdies on the opening six holes, saved par from a front bunker to a back pin on the par-3 eighth, and then birdied the par-5 ninth for a six-shot lead.