Dustin Johnson spent two nights wondering how he would play the final round. In the end, all his focus and strategy was washed away by the Pebble Beach rain. The title was his.
Rain prevented play on Sunday and then wiped out Monday as well, with organisers deciding to give the AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am crown to 24-year-old Johnson, who led by four shots after three rounds.
It was his second victory in the past nine weeks and puts him alongside Anthony Kim as multiple PGA Tour winners who are aged below 25.
He walked out to the course on Monday morning and one of his friends had congratulated him. Johnson said in an AP article:
“I didn’t know what he was talking about. I’ve never won a tournament in tennis shoes. Obviously, I would have liked to have played either yesterday or today. Unfortunately, the weather wouldn’t allow it. But I’m pleased with my play the first three rounds.â€
Almost two days after the last stroke was played, Johnson received his trophy. It was his because of rounds of 65, 69 and 67 over the par-72 course. His total of 201 was four better than Canadian Mike Weir, who fired 69 in the final round.
South Africa’s Retief Goosen had a two-over 74 on Saturday that shifted him out of the reckoning as he finished one stroke behind Weir on 206. Americans Bob Estes and Mark Calcavecchia tied for fourth on 207.
Johnson’s victory moved him up to 45 in the world rankings, good enough to qualify for next week’s Accenture Match Play Championship, which has a 64-man field.
