Monday, February 25, 2019

Final Report
Dustin Johnson won his second European Tour title of the season as he cruised to a five-shot victory at the WGC-Mexico Championship.
The American is the only player to have won all four World Golf Championships events and he took his tally to six at Chapultepec Golf Club with a third triumph in this event.
He began the final day with a four shot lead and while Rory McIlroy cut that gap to two in the early stages, Johnson recovered from just a second blemish of the week to sign for a 66 and finish at 21 under.
Johnson has now won in consecutive starts on the European Tour after his victory at the Saudi International powered by SBIA and will move up to second in the Official World Golf Ranking.
McIlroy put on an excellent show of his own, making six birdies on the back nine in a 67, but still had to settle for a sixth runner-up finish since his last European Tour win at the 2016 Dubai Duty Free Irish Open.
Thai Kiradech Aphibarnrat and English pair Paul Casey and Ian Poulter were then ten shots off the lead in a distant tie for third, one clear of American Patrick Cantlay, Spaniard Sergio Garcia and Australian Cameron Smith.
American Justin Thomas matched his own course record with a 62 to finish at nine under, a shot clear of Dutchman Joost Luiten, who finished his week with an impressive 64.
Keegan Bradley, Alfred Dunhill Championship winner David Lipsky and 14 time Major Champion Tiger Woods were also 13 shots off the lead.
Player Quotes
Dustin Johnson: "This is a big one for me and it gives me a lot of confidence for the rest of the year. I feel like the game's in good form right now.
"It's been a little bit since I've been in the lead with this kind of field and this calibre of players. I know Rory's playing really well, he was not too far behind me, so I definitely felt some nerves there at the beginning of the day.
"I made some really good par saves early in the round on the front nine and that kind of gave me the momentum. I knew I was still swinging it well, I just had to give myself some chances and turned it on on the back nine. Me and Rory both played a really good back nine."
Rory McIlroy: "It was good. Some weeks you play well and someone just plays better and that's what DJ did this week. When DJ has got a four shot lead and goes out and shoots five under par, he's not going to lose.
"My game is right there, I'm really happy with everything. I've just got to stay patient, look at the positives and just keep persisting, putting myself in positions and sooner or later it'll go my way."
Paul Casey: “My game feels really good. I was very happy with the up and down, obviously. There was a lot of world ranking points, FedEx points. This is obviously a co-sanctioned, as European Tour Race to Dubai points. I mean, it's everything.
“It was a big deal and playing a limited schedule between both tours, it's important I capitalise events like this. I want to be kind of in the thick of things and maybe with a chance to win a Race to Dubai as well, that would be really fun. So, big stuff. Game's good, looking forward to it.”
Ian Poulter: “I had a week off skiing. I went back home, hit balls, didn't really hit it very well. Come here, didn't feel great went, so I didn't do an awful lot of putting, to be honest. So, I can't give you the answer why I putted nicely this week. I think my pace was good. I felt comfortable with the speed of the greens and the way the slopes all kind of sloped a bit.
“I mean, my last three starts were sixth, third, sixth, so I was going six, three, six, three right? So, unless someone else finishes above me in that closing hole. But it's good, it's a great finish. I'm happy where my golf is, I'm happy where everyone else is, and I'm just enjoying myself.”
 

                                                                         Ends
EUROPEAN TOUR COMMUNICATIONS
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