D.J. tops Spieth in playoff
OLD WESTBURY, N.Y. — In a FedEx Cup playoff opener that felt like a heavyweight bout, Dustin Johnson delivered back-to-back blows to beat Jordan Spieth in The Northern Trust.
One was a putt from 18 feet. The other was a drive that traveled 341 yards.
Down to his last shot, Johnson watched his 18-foot par putt stay on the high side of the hole and thought for sure it would miss to the right. He took two steps of hope in that direction, then pumped his fist in a rare show of emotion when the ball swirled around and dropped in the back side of the cup for a 4-under 66 to force a playoff.
Given new life, Johnson relied on his strength and powered a drive over the lake to the far edge of the fairway, the longest drive all week on the 18th hole at Glen Oaks. That left him a 60-degree wedge shot he hit to four feet from the hole, setting up a birdie and a victory he badly needed.
The No. 1 player in the World Golf Ranking finally looked the part again on the PGA Tour.
“It was fun to be in the hunt again,” Johnson said, “and know that my game is going to hold up under pressure.”
Johnson won for the first time since he fell, hurt his back and withdrew from the Masters the day before the year’s first major teed off in April. He had won three straight tournaments against strong fields until that injury.
Spieth lost for the first time in six tries when leading by two shots or more, and there wasn’t much he could do except take back that tee shot into the water on the par-3 sixth hole after building a five-shot lead. Johnson didn’t make a bogey over the final 29 holes.
“I didn’t lose the tournament,” Spieth — No. 2 in the world — said after closing with a 69. “He won it.”
Johnson made up the fiveshot deficit in five holes, and he and Spieth battled along the back nine with big shots and big moments before finishing regulation at 13-under 267.
Jon Rahm (68) and Jhonattan Vegas (65) shared third place at 9-under 271.
Baylor School graduate Luke List (68) tied for 34th at 2 over. At No. 52 in the FedEx Cup standings, he advances to the next playoff event, this week’s Deutsche Bank Championship at TPC Boston.
Mitchell shares sixth
Baylor School graduate Keith Mitchell, part of a four-way tie for first place after the third round of the Portland Open, wound up sharing sixth in the Web.Com Tour event at Pumpkin Ridge Golf Club.
Mitchell made five birdies but was bitten by three bogeys as he closed with a 2-under 70 on the Witch Hollow course. He finished at 13-under 270 overall, five shots behind winner Brice Garnett (65), who held a four-stroke edge over four others.
Athens, Tenn., native Eric Axley (75), who was second after 36 holes, tied for 65th at 1 over.
Suri breaks through
FARSO, Denmark — Julian Suri closed with a 7-under 64 to win the Made in Denmark tournament, earning his first European Tour title in just his seventh appearance.
The 26-year-old American made seven birdies and no bogeys at Himmerland Golf and Spa Resort to finish at 19-under 265. He was four shots clear of overnight leader David Horsey, who took a triple bogey on the 18th as he closed with a 70.
“This is the reason why you get up early every morning to practice, go to the gym and get prepared to succeed,” Suri said.
Ben Evans (66), Chris Paisley (69) and Steve Webster (68) shared third place at 13 under. Two-time major winner John Daly, 51, was trying to become the oldest winner in European Tour history but wound up tied for 10th after a closing 71.
Big comeback by Park
OTTAWA, Ontario — Sung Hyun Park rallied to win the Canadian Pacific Women’s Open at Ottawa Hunt & Golf Club.
Park birdied the final hole for a 7-under 64 and a two-stroke victory over fellow South Korean golfer 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 for her first LPGA Tour title.
Michelle Wie withdrew before the round and was taken to Ottawa Hospital for surgery to remove her appendix. Wie was tied for 23rd, six strokes out of first entering the day.
Larsen had a 70 to drop into a tie for third at 10 under with Marina Alex (68), In Gee Chun (70), Shanshan Feng (68) and Cristie Kerr (69). Martin (72) was another stroke back.
Kelly sets record
SNOQUALMIE, Wash. — 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.
Kelly had a tournament-record 19-under 197 total at TPC Snoqualmie Ridge. The three-time PGA Tour winner was making his 13th senior circuit start after turning 50 in November.
Smith closed with a 64, and Bernhard Langer (65) and Billy Mayfair (66) tied for third at 16 under.