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Nothing comes easy for Dustin Johnson in the majors, except when he slipped his arms through the green Masters jacket on Monday (NZT).
Johnson overcame a nervous start that brought back memories of the biggest pasts he couldn’t finish. He turned that into a commando performance, making sure this one-of-a-kind Masters with no fans had no drama either.
Not even close.
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Dustin Johnson celebrates on the 18th green after winning the Masters at Augusta National Golf Club.
Johnson took advantage of par at 18 for a 68 of 4 under par and finished at 268 of 20 under par, breaking by two shots the record set by Tiger Woods in 1997 and equaled by Jordan Spieth in 2015.
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His five-shot victory was his biggest at the Masters since Woods won by 12 in 1997. All that was missing was the roar of the crowd for any of his pivotal putts early and his birdie putts in the last nine that left him. behind.
“It still feels like a dream,” Johnson said. “When you were a kid, you dreamed of winning the Masters and having Tiger put the green jacket on you. I’m here and it’s a great feeling. I couldn’t be more excited. “
The Masters, postponed since April due to the Covid-19 pandemic, was forced to dispense with sponsors for the first time. Johnson still received a warm reception on the 18th from club members and their wives, his partner, Paulina Gretzky, and some champions.
Two-time champion Bubba Watson was there to congratulate him.
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Johnson celebrates with his brother and caddy Austin Johnson on the 18th green.
“I always dreamed of having one of those,” Johnson said as he went to sign his card. “Now I have one.”
Johnson’s four-shot lead was reduced to one after five holes, and then he quickly reestablished control. Cameron Smith and Sungjae Im shot 69 each and they were the only ones who really had a chance.
Smith got great comfort. He became the first player in Masters history to publish all four rounds in the 1960s, and all he got was a silver medal. Johnson became the 12th Masters champion to never fall behind after any round, and his closing of 68 broke another Woods record – it was his 11th consecutive under-par round at Augusta National.
No one had a better result than defending champion Tiger Woods, but only after the five-time Masters champion scored the highest score of his career – three balls at Rae’s Creek for a 10 on the par-3 12th hole. birdies in the last six holes to save a 76.
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Dustin Johnson receives the Green Jacket from former Masters champion Tiger Woods.
Gambling favorite and golf’s biggest hitter, Bryson DeChambeau, couldn’t even beat 63-year-old Bernhard Langer, who shot 71 and finished a shot ahead of the US Open champion.
These were just sideshows on a last quiet day at Augusta National.
Johnson, the world’s first No. 1 player to win the Masters since Woods in 2002, was the main event. He won for the 25th time worldwide and his second major (he won the US Open with four shots behind at Oakmont in 2016) has big advantages. He can come back for the rest of his life and will host the Masters Club dinner next April for the champions.
But even a record score and the widest margin of victory since 1997 didn’t mean it was easy. This is Johnson, after all, who despite all his talents has dealt with more misfortunes than his share, not all of his own actions.
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Dustin Johnson was overwhelmed with excitement during a post-tournament interview.
He was the 16th player to take at least a four-shot lead in the final round of the Masters, and only four failed to win, most recently Rory McIlroy in 2011.
That advantage was reduced to one shot after five holes.
From near the bunker on the second par 5, Johnson cushioned his flop in the bunker and had to fight for the pair on the easiest hole on the course. After he settled in with a birdie at No. 3, he fell short of the green and took three putts for the bogey, then found a fairway bunker on the fifth tee, had to lay up, and did another bogey.
I started with two birdies on three holes and saved par with a fabulous flop over a bunker behind the fifth green. Suddenly, he was just a shot away. Ahead of them was Smith, suddenly two shots behind.
Just when it looked like Johnson was headed for collapse, everything changed into a pit.
Johnson’s tee shot to a pin on the top right shelf at par-3 sixth was placed 6 feet away for a birdie. I splintered from behind the green at 3 feet and missed my even putt. Johnson’s lead returned to three.
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Johnson celebrates with his fiancee Paulina Gretzky after winning the Masters.
Then with Johnson blocked by pine branches and having to hit low to a forward bunker at No. 7, Im from the fairway sailed across the green into a bunker, across the green, and bogey.
Smith was still two shots away when they made the turn, and the wind was stronger than it had been all week, but the Australian could only get a birdie, and by then it was too late.
Nothing is sweeter than climbing the steep hill to the 18th green with a five shot lead and a green jacket waiting. Except for this case, there was no one to cheer on, hardly anyone to look at.
There were no roars this week. The white and pink blooms of azaleas and dogwood were replaced by shades of gold and browns from Augusta in fall. It really was a Masters unlike any other, except there was no mistaking that green jacket.
It’s a good option for Johnson.
