This article is part of our Weekly PGA Recap series.
As Dustin Johnson's leave of absence/suspension extended into autumn last year, reports from the golfer's camp indicated that he was working hard on his game, and his life, just as he said he would when he announced his break.
Those reports surely seem to have been validated by Johnson in the five weeks since he has returned to golf, culminating with the biggest win of his career Sunday in the WGC-Cadillac Championship.
Johnson won a long-distance duel with J.B. Holmes and Bubba Watson, who combined to show that the Blue Monster at Trump National overwhelmingly favors the biggest hitters. Johnson (328.3 yards on average), Holmes (325) Watson (318) finished 1-2-3 in driving distance, and also 1-2-3 on the leaderboard.
At the start of Sunday, Holmes was still riding high from his opening 62 to carry a five-stroke lead into the final round. But his game fell apart with three bogeys in the first six holes, allowing Watson to forge ahead. But Watson melted down on the back nine, with three bogeys in a four-hole stretch, allowing Johnson to seize control. He didn't unravel, playing the back nine in 2-under.
Johnson also led the field in greens in regulation and, while only 19th in strokes gained-putting, his tee-to-green game was enough to carry him. Afterward, fiancee Paulina Gretzky and 7-week-old Tatum greeted Daddy, who told reporters that winning the Cadillac was no match for fatherhood.
Johnson said all the right things that lead us to believe he has turned a corner,
As Dustin Johnson's leave of absence/suspension extended into autumn last year, reports from the golfer's camp indicated that he was working hard on his game, and his life, just as he said he would when he announced his break.
Those reports surely seem to have been validated by Johnson in the five weeks since he has returned to golf, culminating with the biggest win of his career Sunday in the WGC-Cadillac Championship.
Johnson won a long-distance duel with J.B. Holmes and Bubba Watson, who combined to show that the Blue Monster at Trump National overwhelmingly favors the biggest hitters. Johnson (328.3 yards on average), Holmes (325) Watson (318) finished 1-2-3 in driving distance, and also 1-2-3 on the leaderboard.
At the start of Sunday, Holmes was still riding high from his opening 62 to carry a five-stroke lead into the final round. But his game fell apart with three bogeys in the first six holes, allowing Watson to forge ahead. But Watson melted down on the back nine, with three bogeys in a four-hole stretch, allowing Johnson to seize control. He didn't unravel, playing the back nine in 2-under.
Johnson also led the field in greens in regulation and, while only 19th in strokes gained-putting, his tee-to-green game was enough to carry him. Afterward, fiancee Paulina Gretzky and 7-week-old Tatum greeted Daddy, who told reporters that winning the Cadillac was no match for fatherhood.
Johnson said all the right things that lead us to believe he has turned a corner, at age 30, from his youthful ways. And he also showed it on the course, the steadiest golfer all week. With Doral the toughest track on tour outside the majors, golfers were finding water left and right, leading to double- and triple-bogeys. For Johnson, his four-day card showed no hole worse than a bogey. That's steady.
He's now won at least once eight seasons in a row, the longest such streak on tour. And with three top-4 showings in his five weeks back, Johnson has thrust himself into the Masters conversation, though Watson and Rory McIlroy remain the betting favorites.
With a second WGC title now on Johnson's resume, the one thing preventing him from completing his transformation is a major victory. He'll get the chance to check that off his bucket list next month at Augusta.
MONDAY TAKEAWAY
J.B. Holmes
Holmes was bidding to go wire-to-wire, shooting an opening 10-under 62 that Johnny Miller called one of the great rounds of the last 20 years. But after carrying a five-shot lead into Sunday, it all unraveled for Holmes, with three bogeys in the first six holes. He finished one shot back of Johnson. As disappointing as the collapse must be for Holmes (and his owners), this was his second runner-up in four events. Where there's smoke, there's fire, and an upcoming Holmes victory seems inevitable.
Bubba Watson
What was more shocking, Holmes blowing a five-stroke lead or Watson blowing a two-shot advantage after overtaking Holmes? After shooting a front-nine 32 for forge ahead, Watson posted three bogeys in a four-hole stretch to be overtaken himself, by Johnson. As disappointing as this must be for Watson (and his owners), this was another strong outing on a tough course. With Augusta a month away, the two-time Masters champion seems well-prepared to defend his title.
Adam Scott
With a new caddie and a new putter in his first foray in 2015, Scott showed great form and no rustiness. A third-round 75 did him in, but Scott tied for fourth, and he was 12th in strokes gained-putting, better than Johnson and Watson. Let's see how the former world No. 1 responds this week at the Valspar, as he ramps up for the Masters.
Henrik Stenson
Stenson tied Scott for fourth in his first PGA Tour event of 2015. Like Scott, he'll play a lot in the States leading up to Augusta, where he has the length and the touch to contend.
Rory McIlroy
Of course, the takeway from Doral for McIlroy will always be the rinsed 3-iron. For all that went wrong for McIlroy over the first day and a half of the tournament leading to that moment, he steadied himself afterward. As others fell down the leaderboard, McIlroy played par golf on the weekend, 72-72, to tie for ninth. Still, it's two weeks in a row without contending, and McIlroy will need to show better form soon to continue as the top Masters favorite.
Phil Mickelson
Doesn't it seem that every time Mickelson says his game is thisclose, he stinks up the joint? Mickelson played well two weeks ago at the Honda, leading to his optimism. But twin 74s to start the Cadillac put an end to any hopes of continued success, and he wound up tied for 31st. Mickelson playing well is becoming more and more of an isolated event. That's not to say Good Phil can't surface at Augusta.
Justin Rose
Like McIlroy, Rose surprisingly has fallen flat the last two weeks in his 2015 stateside debut. He missed the cut at the Honda, where had had a string of top-5s, then finished 55th at Doral. Rose is in the field at this week's Valspar, and there's time to right himself before the Masters. A third straight week in the dumps would be concerning.
Graeme McDowell
Continuing with the Jeopardy! category "Euros Not Playing Well," McDowell missed the cut at the Honda and tied for 56th at Doral. McDowell hasn't won on the PGA Tour in almost two years, and has no top-10s in the Masters. He's already fallen seven spots in the world rankings since 2015 began, from No. 15 to 22, and there's nothing to indicate that slide will stop anytime soon.
Sand saves: Alex Cejka won the opposite-field Puerto Rico Open in a five-way playoff, giving the 44-year-old German his first PGA Tour title. Sam Saunders, grandson of Arnold Palmer, lost in the playoff in his finest outing as a pro. And pity young Argentine Emiliano Grillo, who missed a three-footer on 18 for the win in regulation. Jon Curran and veteran Tim Petrovic rounded out the playoff participants. What do they all have in common? They shouldn't be expected to repeat their lofty showing anytime soon, once they return to full-field action. Even Cejka's new status that will get him more starts should not impact your thinking.
