Augusta (United States) – Imperial from begin to end, Dustin Johnson has confirmed himself to be the finest golfer in the world, profitable with out shaking the Augusta Masters, the second Grand Slam event of his profession after the US Open 2016, Sunday in Georgia.
The world No. 1 succeeds Tiger Woods, who, as custom has it, as the earlier proprietor, helped him placed on the well-known and coveted inexperienced jacket.
With a complete of -20, Johnson broke the event file (18) set by Woods in 1997 and tied by Jordan Spieth in 2015.
“For me the Masters is the biggest tournament in the world. I dreamed of winning it one day, this dream has come true. It’s just incredible,” he reacted, moved.
An emotion contained, as a result of he needed to management all of it day to maintain the lead of 4 strokes counted at the begin of this 4th lap. He even elevated it to 5 at the expense of the Australian Cameron Smith and the South Korean Im Sung-jae, surprising dolphins.
“I have been nervous all day, but I am very proud of the way I controlled things and the way I golfed until the end,” mentioned the 36-year-old. , who grew up an hour’s drive north of the Augusta National Golf Club.
– Indian signal defeated –
He is the first world #1 to win there since Woods in 2002. Proof that the prestigious Major shouldn’t be supplied to only any favourite of the second.
But Johnson is so near excellence this yr, disrupted by the coronavirus pandemic which imposes closed doorways all over the place on the PGA Tour and which he contracted barely a month in the past, that he has even managed to defeat the signal Indian in Augusta.
In the lead after 54 holes, he lastly managed to not crack, regardless of the eddies of the wind and the strain, to triumph at the finish of this final lap, he who had failed the first 4 occasions he was in such a place, to the US Open 2010, 2015 and 2018, in addition to the PGA Championship this summer season
This success is his 4th of the season, after these received at the Travelers Championship, the Northern Trust and the Tour Championship, his twenty fourth since he turned skilled in 2007.
The American was barely scared by chaining two bogeys on the 4th and fifth holes, notably letting Im Sung-jae come near a pitch. But two birdies in the sixth and seventh, added to the one made in the third, restored the distance. He managed three extra in the thirteenth, 14th and fifteenth which killed all suspense.
– Woods’ ordeal –
His pursuers weren’t unworthy, additionally enhancing their rating of the day earlier than.
The younger Im Sung-jae, 22, will lengthy keep in mind his very first participation on this Major, as a result of his complete of -15, though inadequate, stays nonetheless spectacular.
“To be honest, my goal was to pass the cut. Finishing 2nd is incredible and makes me very proud,” responded the South Korean, who found this course on Monday.
Cameron Smith, who shares 2nd place, outperformed fifth gleaned from Augusta in 2018 and grew to become the first participant to return a card in the 60s (67, 68, 69, 69) in every Masters spherical. (by 72).
Behind them, eight strokes behind Johnson, is world No.3 Justin Thomas, adopted by South African Dylan Frittelli (-11) and Rory McIlroy (-11), writer of comeback after a disastrous begin on Thursday .
For Tiger Woods, on the different hand, it’s the reverse. Despite two promising first laps, he skilled a ordeal on the twelfth gap, a par 3, which noticed him ship the ball thrice into the river.
It took him ten strokes to place an finish to the ruthless Amen Corner, his worst ever file in a Major, in accordance with the PGA. “It will give me more experience at Rae’s Creek,” the river under the inexperienced, he mentioned, thinker.
Proof that golf might be ruthless, even for its biggest champions.
