Johnson Closes Out Li With Two Final Birdies

A Valiant Li Haotong Unable to Keep Dustin Johnson From A Win

World No. 3 Dustin Johnson capped a roller-coaster back nine with birdies on his last two holes and secured his first win in a full-field European Tour event at the inaugural Saudi International last month.

The 34-year-old American closed with a three-under par 67, two better than China’s Li Haotong, who birdied the last to snatch solo second place with a 69. Johnson took the title with a winning total of 19-under par 261.

England’s Tom Lewis (65) made a spirited charge, but after making five birdies in his first five holes, he ran out of steam and finished third at 264.

Australia’s Min Woo Lee, younger brother of LPGA Tour star Minjee Lee,

shot a second successive round of sevenunder par 63 in only his second start as a professional to finish solo fourth, one shot behind Lewis. Frenchman Alex Levy (65) was fifth on 266.

"It feels really good. Any time you can win a professional golf tournament, no matter where it is in the world, it’s a big win. I’m honoured to be the champion, and I’m very pleased," said Johnson, "I’m heading back to the States, and I’ve got three big weeks in a row. I’ve got Pebble Beach, LA and Mexico coming up. To win here, obviously the game is in good form."

Li had gone into the final 18 on a high after firing four eagles, including a record-breaking three eagle twos, in his third-round 62. Playing in the final group after starting the day tied on 16-under par, Johnson and Li were neck and neck after eight holes with one birdie to show for in their rounds. But Li moved ahead with a chip-in birdie from a difficult position on the ninth to take a one-shot lead heading into the back nine.

It took a lipped-out par putt from less than two feet on the par-4 10th hole to finally wake Johnson up, who hit a brilliant tee shot on the par-3 11th to tap-in distance to catch up with Li, and the momentum continued with a 20-foot birdie putt on the par-4 12th to edge Johnson ahead by a shot.

The advantage doubled on the long and tough par-4 13th hole when Li made a bogey from the greenside bunker, and then followed it up with another on the 14th hole.

But there was more drama to come as Johnson hit his tee shot into the Red Sea on the picturesque par-3 16th hole. Managing to make a 15-foot putt to avoid a double bogey and with Li making a birdie on the 15th, the lead was down to one shot going into the final two holes, of which Johnson managed to birdie both, while Li could not convert his on the 17th after hitting a wild tee shot.

"I think he deserved to win," said a satisfied Li. "It was a very good match, especially the front nine where I played really good. Just a little bit off on the back nine. I wasn’t my best over there again, but I learned a lot and especially that last few holes was good for me."