Weekend wrap: DJ becomes golf’s 20th world No.1

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Dustin Johnson has dethroned Jason Day as the best golfer on the planet by demolishing the field to win the US PGA Tour’s Genesis Open by five strokes in Los Angeles.

 

The reigning US Open champion and PGA Tour Player of the Year is the 20th man to climb to golf’s ranking summit, ending Day’s 47-week run at the top. The Genesis Open triumph is Johnson’s 13th US Tour title and third since claiming the US Open last June. The 32-year-old, who announced over the weekend that he and fiancée Paulina Gretzky are expecting their second child, has elevated his game in the past year since adding control to complement his immense power.

 

At famed Riviera Country Club, Johnson opened 66-66-64 to create a lead large enough – eight strokes at one stage – in the weather-plagued tournament to make the final 18 holes a pedestrian affair. In the end, the race for second was split between Belgian Thomas Pieters (63) and American Scott Brown (67) at 12-under par with daylight between them and Johnson at 17-under (71). Best among the Australians was Adam Scott in a tie for 11th at nine-under (70).

 

FINAL LEADERBOARD

 

Other milestones for Johnson include becoming the 12th golfer to pass $US40 million in earnings and extending his streak of seasons with at least one US Tour victory to 10.

 

The quest for Johnson now becomes twofold: remain at No.1 for as long as his pursuers allow and translate his potent form and talent into a Masters green jacket in six weeks’ time.

 

There is a synergy to modern golfers winning at Riviera and Augusta National in their careers – think Phil Mickelson, Fred Couples, Nick Faldo, Mike Weir, Bubba Watson and Scott. Right now, the odds of Johnson joining the club would be short indeed.

 

* WOMEN’S AUSTRALIAN OPEN RE-CAP: https://www.australiangolfdigest.com.au/jang-storms-claim-aussie-open/

 

* WORLD SUPER 6 PERTH RE-CAP AND HIGHLIGHTS: https://www.australiangolfdigest.com.au/rumford-wins-inaugural-isps-handa-world-super-6-perth/