Johnson rallies, wins in playoff at Northern Trust
Dustin Johnson faced long odds all day against Jordan Spieth until the longest drive of the tournament led to an unlike playoff victory Sunday in The Northern Trust in Old Westbury, New York.
Johnson, who rallied from a fiveshot deficit and shot a 4-under 66 to tie Spieth at the end of regulation, launched a 341-yard tee shot on the first hole of sudden death that left him a lob wedge that he hit to 4 feet.
Spieth hit 7-iron to the back collar and missed his 25-foot birdie putt. Johnson then made his birdie to record his fourth victory of the year.
“I didn’t lose the tournament,” said Spieth, who shot a final-round 69. “He won it.”
The opening FedEx Cup playoff event saw both stars finish at 13-under 267. It was the first victory for Johnson since he wrenched his back that knocked him out of the Masters. He had won three straight tournaments prior to the injury.
“I feel like the game is finally back in form like it was before the Masters,” Johnson said. KELLY WINS HIS FIRST SENIOR TITLE >> Jerry Kelly won the Boeing Classic for his first PGA Tour Champions title, closing with a 6-under 66 for a one-stroke victory over Jerry Smith in Snoqualmie, Washington.
Kelly finished with an event-record 19-under 197 at TPC Snoqualmie Ridge. The three-time PGA Tour winner was making his 13th senior start after turning 50 in November.
Smith closed with a 64. Bernhard Langer (65) and Billy Mayfair (66) tied for third at 16 under. PARK WINS BACK-TO-BACK MAJORS >> Sung Hyun Park added the Canadian Pacific Women’s Open title to her U.S. Women’s Open crown with a comeback victory at Ottawa Hunt in Ontario.
Park birdied the final hole for a 7-under 64 and a two-stroke victory over fellow South Korean Mirim Lee. Four strokes behind leaders Nicole Broch Larsen and Mo Martin entering the round, Park finished at 13-under 271. She won the U.S. Women’s Open last month in New Jersey for her first LPGA Tour title.
Michelle Wie withdrew before the round and was taken to Ottawa Hospital for surgery to remove her appendix. She was tied for 23rd, six strokes back, entering the day.
Cycling
FROOME INCREASES VUELTA LEAD >> Chris Froome moved to the front in the final climb to win the ninth stage of the Spanish Vuelta on Sunday and increase his overall lead.
The Tour de France winner took the lead with about 500 yards to go and held on to win the 108-mile stage in southeastern Spain. He crossed the line four seconds ahead of Colombian Esteban Chaves, who remained second overall, 36 seconds behind Froome. Nicolas Roche of Ireland is third, more than a minute off the lead.
Motor sports
CLEMENTS WINS HIS FIRST XFINITY RACE >> Jeremy Clements battled Matt Tifft down the stretch at Road America in Elkhart, Wisconsin, before pulling away to the finish line for his first career Xfinity Series victory in 256 starts.
Michael Annett passed Tifft, who spun out on the final turn, to take second, 5.8 seconds behind Clements. Tifft settled for third, with Series leader Elliott Sadler finishing 14th. HAMILTON’S VICTORY TRIMS LEAD >> Lewis Hamilton celebrated his record-equaling 68th pole position with a victory at the Belgian Grand Prix, trimming championship leader Sebastian Vettel’s lead to seven points.
Hamilton clinched his fifth victory of the season and 58th overall, having equaled Michael Schumacher’s pole record.
Vettel finished second, about 2 seconds behind Hamilton.
After 12 races, Vettel has 220 points to Hamilton’s 213 heading into this weekend’s Italian GP in Monza.
NHL
DEVILS SIGN YOUNG DEFENSEMAN >> The New Jersey Devils landed college hockey’s top player by signing defenseman Will Butcher to a twoyear, $1.85 million contract.
The agreement comes two weeks after the University of Denver player became a free agent by turning down a chance to sign with the Colorado Avalanche before a deadline passed on Aug. 15. The Avalanche selected Butcher in the fifth round in 2013.