DUSTIN JOHNSON CAPTURED his 14th PGA Tour title at the WGC-Mexico Championship.
The high altitude and soft greens got to Johnson in the opening round, when the world’s top golfer missed five putts inside five feet.
But he rebounded quickly, firing four straight rounds in the 60s to finish at 14 under.
Many wondered how Johnson would do in his first start as world number one, and he did not disappoint.
Johnson has been the model of consistency since the beginning of 2016 and, barring injury, should continue to dominate.
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Englishman Tommy Fleetwood made things interesting with a birdie on the par-four 18th to finish at 13 under. He had four birdies on his last eight holes to force Johnson into a par on the 72nd hole.
Jon Rahm was the first to threaten Johnson.
The 22-year-old Spaniard, who recently won his first PGA Tour event, even took a one-shot lead after Johnson bogeyed two consecutive holes on the back nine.
Unfortunately for Rahm, who was playing alongside his idol Phil Mickelson, he holed two late bogeys to fall back into a tie for third at 12 under.
Ross Fisher also finished at 12 under after birdieing his last three holes.
Thomas Pieters and Justin Thomas, a three-time PGA Tour winner already this season, tied for fifth at 11 under.
Thomas held a one-shot lead entering the final round.
Rounding up the tournament packed with notables, Rory McIlroy returned to tie for seventh at 10 under with Mickelson and Brandt Snedeker.
It was McIlroy’s worst round of the weekend as he struggled to gain any momentum – particularly on the back nine where a litany of pars were punctuated by just one birdie at the 14th.
There was only one other birdie – at the 6th – while he dropped shots at the 3rd and the 7th, which were both Par 3s.
McIlroy had been the halfway leader after a magnificent second round of 65.
McIlroy forced to wait to reclaim top spot as rival Dustin Johnson takes victory in Mexico
DUSTIN JOHNSON CAPTURED his 14th PGA Tour title at the WGC-Mexico Championship.
The high altitude and soft greens got to Johnson in the opening round, when the world’s top golfer missed five putts inside five feet.
But he rebounded quickly, firing four straight rounds in the 60s to finish at 14 under.
Many wondered how Johnson would do in his first start as world number one, and he did not disappoint.
Johnson has been the model of consistency since the beginning of 2016 and, barring injury, should continue to dominate.
Englishman Tommy Fleetwood made things interesting with a birdie on the par-four 18th to finish at 13 under. He had four birdies on his last eight holes to force Johnson into a par on the 72nd hole.
Jon Rahm was the first to threaten Johnson.
The 22-year-old Spaniard, who recently won his first PGA Tour event, even took a one-shot lead after Johnson bogeyed two consecutive holes on the back nine.
Unfortunately for Rahm, who was playing alongside his idol Phil Mickelson, he holed two late bogeys to fall back into a tie for third at 12 under.
Ross Fisher also finished at 12 under after birdieing his last three holes.
Thomas Pieters and Justin Thomas, a three-time PGA Tour winner already this season, tied for fifth at 11 under.
Thomas held a one-shot lead entering the final round.
Rounding up the tournament packed with notables, Rory McIlroy returned to tie for seventh at 10 under with Mickelson and Brandt Snedeker.
It was McIlroy’s worst round of the weekend as he struggled to gain any momentum – particularly on the back nine where a litany of pars were punctuated by just one birdie at the 14th.
There was only one other birdie – at the 6th – while he dropped shots at the 3rd and the 7th, which were both Par 3s.
McIlroy had been the halfway leader after a magnificent second round of 65.
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