Dustin Johnson is new World No 1 pro
FROM THE US PGA TOUR WEBSITE
PACIFIC PALISADES, California – When Dustin Johnson wakes up Monday morning, he plans to jump online and look at the Official World Golf Ranking. For the first time, his name will be at the top.
And he won’t be sure how he got there.
“I don’t really understand it,” Johnson said of the world ranking formula, “but I can read the 1, 2, 3. I guess that’s all that matters.”
Actually, all that really matters is to win tournaments. Everything else then takes care of itself. On a long Sunday at Riviera, Johnson did exactly that, cranking out 36 holes to claim the weather-plagued Genesis Open for the first time.
Dustin had rounds of 66, 66, 64 and 71 for a 17-under total of 267. He won by five shots from Belgium's Thomas Pieters and American Scott Brown.
Justin Rose was joint fourth on 273. Martin Laird finished T8 on 274, signing off with a 66 that lifted him into the top 10.
Johnson's win, the 13th of his pro career, means he has won at least once in each of his first 10 seasons on the US Tour.
Only Arnold Palmer, Jack Nicklaus and Tiger Woods have done better. Go ahead and take a moment to let that sink in.
Johnson also becomes the 20th player to assume the title of world No. 1 since the ranking system was launched at the 1986 Masters. Of those previous 19, six were in the field this week at Riviera -- including Johnson’s immediate predecessor, Jason Day, who gives up the top spot after a reign of 47 consecutive weeks.
Since being No. 1 is new for Johnson, did Day have any advice on how to handle it?
Not really.
“I think he’s going to do just fine,” Day said. “I think he’s won every single year that he’s been out here. That’s the formula. You’ve got to win every single year and you’ve got to win as much as you can. He’s done such a good job of doing that, and to be able to not only do that but play well consistently – whatever he’s doing, he just needs to keep doing it.”
Jordan Spieth, who’s had four stints at No. 1, said his advice for Johnson was to make sure and put the ranking in its proper perspective. Or as he put it, “To not listen to everyone telling you that No. 1 is something more significant than really anything else.
“When I’ve talked to him and from what I’ve seen and read, it’s certainly a goal of his to be in that position, but that wasn’t something that’s going to kind of wear and tear on him as he steps on the tee anywhere. He’s been on the Tour for a long time, he’s seen a lot … he’s right at the prime of his career and he’s showing it.”
Luke Donald became No. 1 in May of 2011 after a European Tour win. He held onto the top spot for 40 consecutive weeks; cumulatively, he’s spent 56 weeks at the top.
“I think Dustin will do just fine,” Donald said. “A lot of people ask me, was it hard being No. 1? My answer was no. You’re playing great golf to get there, you’re high in confidence every week, you feel like good things are going to happen. Just enjoy it. Enjoy being No. 1 and try to stay there as long as you can.”
Day’s fellow Australian, Adam Scott, became No. 1 during an off-week in May of 2014, then celebrated by winning at Colonial. He held the top spot for 11 weeks before giving way to Rory McIlroy. Scott’s advice sounded very similar to Donald’s.
“Just enjoy it,” he said. “I think as we’ve seen since Tiger really dominated the position, no one’s staying there too long. Jason has been there quite awhile. Luke Donald held on quite awhile. … There just isn’t that separation between the top players that there was for that long period of time when Tiger was far, far ahead.”
LEADING FINAL TOTALS
Par 284 (4x71)
267 Dustin Johnson (USA) 66 66 64 71
272 Thomas Pieters (Belgium) 70 68 71 63, Scott Brown (USA) 68 68 69 67.
273 Justin Rose (England) 69 71 65 68, Wesley Bryan (USA) 69 69 63 72,Kevin Na (USA) 67 69 67 70, Charley Hoffman (USA) 68 68 70 67.
SELECTED TOTALS
274 Martin Laird (Scotland) 70 68 70 66 (T8)
277 Luke Donald (England) 68 68 71 70 (T17)
280 Phil Mickelson (USA) 67 73 71 69 (T34)
281 Padraig Harrington (Ireland) 67 72 70 72, Paul Casey (England) 60 72 71 69 (T39)
282 Sergio Garcia (Spain) 72 67 72 71 (T49)
287 Graeme McDowell (N Ireland) 69 70 71 77 (67th).
FROM THE US PGA TOUR WEBSITE
PACIFIC PALISADES, California – When Dustin Johnson wakes up Monday morning, he plans to jump online and look at the Official World Golf Ranking. For the first time, his name will be at the top.
And he won’t be sure how he got there.
“I don’t really understand it,” Johnson said of the world ranking formula, “but I can read the 1, 2, 3. I guess that’s all that matters.”
Actually, all that really matters is to win tournaments. Everything else then takes care of itself. On a long Sunday at Riviera, Johnson did exactly that, cranking out 36 holes to claim the weather-plagued Genesis Open for the first time.
Dustin had rounds of 66, 66, 64 and 71 for a 17-under total of 267. He won by five shots from Belgium's Thomas Pieters and American Scott Brown.
Justin Rose was joint fourth on 273. Martin Laird finished T8 on 274, signing off with a 66 that lifted him into the top 10.
Johnson's win, the 13th of his pro career, means he has won at least once in each of his first 10 seasons on the US Tour.
Only Arnold Palmer, Jack Nicklaus and Tiger Woods have done better. Go ahead and take a moment to let that sink in.
Johnson also becomes the 20th player to assume the title of world No. 1 since the ranking system was launched at the 1986 Masters. Of those previous 19, six were in the field this week at Riviera -- including Johnson’s immediate predecessor, Jason Day, who gives up the top spot after a reign of 47 consecutive weeks.
Since being No. 1 is new for Johnson, did Day have any advice on how to handle it?
Not really.
“I think he’s going to do just fine,” Day said. “I think he’s won every single year that he’s been out here. That’s the formula. You’ve got to win every single year and you’ve got to win as much as you can. He’s done such a good job of doing that, and to be able to not only do that but play well consistently – whatever he’s doing, he just needs to keep doing it.”
Jordan Spieth, who’s had four stints at No. 1, said his advice for Johnson was to make sure and put the ranking in its proper perspective. Or as he put it, “To not listen to everyone telling you that No. 1 is something more significant than really anything else.
“When I’ve talked to him and from what I’ve seen and read, it’s certainly a goal of his to be in that position, but that wasn’t something that’s going to kind of wear and tear on him as he steps on the tee anywhere. He’s been on the Tour for a long time, he’s seen a lot … he’s right at the prime of his career and he’s showing it.”
Luke Donald became No. 1 in May of 2011 after a European Tour win. He held onto the top spot for 40 consecutive weeks; cumulatively, he’s spent 56 weeks at the top.
“I think Dustin will do just fine,” Donald said. “A lot of people ask me, was it hard being No. 1? My answer was no. You’re playing great golf to get there, you’re high in confidence every week, you feel like good things are going to happen. Just enjoy it. Enjoy being No. 1 and try to stay there as long as you can.”
Day’s fellow Australian, Adam Scott, became No. 1 during an off-week in May of 2014, then celebrated by winning at Colonial. He held the top spot for 11 weeks before giving way to Rory McIlroy. Scott’s advice sounded very similar to Donald’s.
“Just enjoy it,” he said. “I think as we’ve seen since Tiger really dominated the position, no one’s staying there too long. Jason has been there quite awhile. Luke Donald held on quite awhile. … There just isn’t that separation between the top players that there was for that long period of time when Tiger was far, far ahead.”
LEADING FINAL TOTALS
Par 284 (4x71)
267 Dustin Johnson (USA) 66 66 64 71
272 Thomas Pieters (Belgium) 70 68 71 63, Scott Brown (USA) 68 68 69 67.
273 Justin Rose (England) 69 71 65 68, Wesley Bryan (USA) 69 69 63 72,Kevin Na (USA) 67 69 67 70, Charley Hoffman (USA) 68 68 70 67.
SELECTED TOTALS
274 Martin Laird (Scotland) 70 68 70 66 (T8)
277 Luke Donald (England) 68 68 71 70 (T17)
280 Phil Mickelson (USA) 67 73 71 69 (T34)
281 Padraig Harrington (Ireland) 67 72 70 72, Paul Casey (England) 60 72 71 69 (T39)
282 Sergio Garcia (Spain) 72 67 72 71 (T49)
287 Graeme McDowell (N Ireland) 69 70 71 77 (67th).
Labels: US PGA TOUR
posted by Colin |
See story on its own page | Sunday, February 19, 2017
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