VERONA - When the final round of the Turning Stone Resort Championship began, six players near the top of the leaderboard had a chance at that elusive first PGA Tour victory. Rookie Dustin Johnson was the last man standing.
The long-hitting Johnson birdied the final two holes Sunday, sinking an 8-foot putt on the final hole to beat Australian Robert Allenby by one shot.
“I started off the year really well and then I don't really know what happened,” said the 24-year-old Johnson, who had two top-10s in his first four starts and then missed nine cuts and withdrew from two other events. “Me and my coach sat down about a month ago and set some goals. I practiced hard and tried to get my game back.”
It's back.
Johnson (69) finished at 9-under 279 and pocketed $1.08 million of the $6 million purse, the richest of the Fall Series. That catapulted him from 128th to 41st on the PGA money list. The top 125 at the end of the year retain full exemption for 2009.
“It's kind of hard to explain. I haven't grasped everything yet,” said Johnson, who had to sit and wait patiently until third-round co-leader Charles Howell III, the last man with a chance, hit his third shot at 18. “Right now I feel pretty good. I'm obviously very, very excited. Hopefully, it'll hit me a little bit later. I'll probably have to sit down and re-evaluate my goals.”
Allenby (70), seeking his fifth victory and first since 2001, had a chance to tie at 18, but his 12-foot putt for birdie stopped inches short of the hole.
“I left everything short,” said Allenby, who needed 126 putts on the four rounds. “Yesterday, I probably had the worst putting round of my life. I just lost my nerve with the putter. I tried to regain it, took the putter home last night and slept with it. All you can do is just give it your best.”
Mathew Goggin (69), Steve Allan (69), Woody Austin (69), Davis Love III (70), Ryuji Imada (69), Robert Garrigus (69), and Howell (73) all finished at 7 under. Nick O'Hern (68), Pat Perez (70), Joe Ogilvie (70), and Jeff Overton (73) were another shot back.
Tag Ridings (79), who was tied with Howell for the lead at 8 under entering the day, self-destructed with three bogeys, a triple bogey, and one double bogey in an eight-hole span. Ridings, Kyle Thompson, Overton, Davis, and Jason Day (75) also were seeking their first win.
The best conditions of the weekend were predicted for Sunday, and the weatherman was right. Although there was an occasional sprinkle early, the sun was shining off and on most of the day as temperatures moderated somewhat into the high 50s and the wind dissipated. The players also were allowed to lift and clean their golf balls for the second straight round.
“I started off the year really well and then I don't really know what happened,” said the 24-year-old Johnson, who had two top-10s in his first four starts and then missed nine cuts and withdrew from two other events. “Me and my coach sat down about a month ago and set some goals. I practiced hard and tried to get my game back.”
It's back.
Johnson (69) finished at 9-under 279 and pocketed $1.08 million of the $6 million purse, the richest of the Fall Series. That catapulted him from 128th to 41st on the PGA money list. The top 125 at the end of the year retain full exemption for 2009.
“It's kind of hard to explain. I haven't grasped everything yet,” said Johnson, who had to sit and wait patiently until third-round co-leader Charles Howell III, the last man with a chance, hit his third shot at 18. “Right now I feel pretty good. I'm obviously very, very excited. Hopefully, it'll hit me a little bit later. I'll probably have to sit down and re-evaluate my goals.”
Allenby (70), seeking his fifth victory and first since 2001, had a chance to tie at 18, but his 12-foot putt for birdie stopped inches short of the hole.
“I left everything short,” said Allenby, who needed 126 putts on the four rounds. “Yesterday, I probably had the worst putting round of my life. I just lost my nerve with the putter. I tried to regain it, took the putter home last night and slept with it. All you can do is just give it your best.”
Mathew Goggin (69), Steve Allan (69), Woody Austin (69), Davis Love III (70), Ryuji Imada (69), Robert Garrigus (69), and Howell (73) all finished at 7 under. Nick O'Hern (68), Pat Perez (70), Joe Ogilvie (70), and Jeff Overton (73) were another shot back.
Tag Ridings (79), who was tied with Howell for the lead at 8 under entering the day, self-destructed with three bogeys, a triple bogey, and one double bogey in an eight-hole span. Ridings, Kyle Thompson, Overton, Davis, and Jason Day (75) also were seeking their first win.
The best conditions of the weekend were predicted for Sunday, and the weatherman was right. Although there was an occasional sprinkle early, the sun was shining off and on most of the day as temperatures moderated somewhat into the high 50s and the wind dissipated. The players also were allowed to lift and clean their golf balls for the second straight round.
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