Johnson's perfect start to season 2013
BY Bruce Young | US PGA Tour | 2013 Hyundai Tournament of Champions | Wrap | 09 Jan 2013
Dustin Johnson has started the 2013 season in the best possible style with an emphatic four shot victory in the season opening Hyundai Tournament of Champions at Kapalua.
The tournament which lasted over five days but was reduced to 54 holes because of the horrific winds which buffeted the Plantation Course was finally decided on Tuesday afternoon Hawaii Time with Johnson extending his three shot overnight lead to four with a final round of 68.
Johnson’s only real hiccup over the two days of actual play came when he double bogeyed his 13th and held a one shot lead at that point before he recovered quickly with a chip in eagle at the 14th.
It was Johnson’s 7th PGA Tour title and earns him US$1.12 million.
“Well, it means a lot,” said Johnson when asked that very question. "I’ve had a few leads at PGA TOUR events, and it means a lot today, especially for my confidence, and just for all the things I’ve been working on and all the hard work I’ve put in.
“Well, I’ve done it enough times that it doesn’t really bother me anymore (laughter),” added Johnson when asked about the double bogey when leading. " I’ve been in this situation enough now and I’ve made enough double bogeys in my life, that, you know, it’s just another hole, and you’ve got a lot more holes to go where you can make it up.
“Fortunately today I made a double and then the next hole I made eagle. That definitely was the turning point of the day, because walking off 13, I was like, oh, no, here it goes again.
But I came right back, focused and hit two great shots.
Defending champion Steve Stricker finished runner-up despite some ongoing injury problems while Brandt Snedeker was 3rd and Bubba Watson and Keegan Bradley were tied for 4th.
Marc Leishman was the only Australian in the field and finished 23rd in the 30 man line-up in what was his first appearance at Kapalua.
The PGA Tour now moves across to Honolulu where twenty players from this week’s field will be joined by a full field of PGA Tour players several of them playing a PGA Tour event for the first occasion.
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