Johnson outduels Li to clinch Saudi title
Credit to Author: AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE| Date: Mon, 04 Feb 2019 18:45:59 +0000
KING ABDULLAH ECONOMIC CITY, Saudi Arabia: American Dustin Johnson capped a roller-coaster back nine with birdies on his last two holes and secure his first win in a full-field European Tour event at the inaugural Saudi International on Sunday.
The 34-year-old American closed with a three-under par 67 to finish on 19-under par 261, two better than China’s Li Haotong, who birdied the last to take solo second place with a 69.
England’s Tom Lewis (65) made a spirited charge, but after making five birdies in his first five holes, he ran out of steam and finished third at 264.
Australia’s Min Woo Lee shot a second successive round of seven-under par 63 in only his second start as a professional to finish solo fourth, one shot behind Lewis. Frenchman Alex Levy (65) was fifth on 266.
“It feels really good. Any time you can win a professional golf tournament, no matter where it is in the world, it’s a big win. I’m honored to be the champion, and I’m very pleased,” said Johnson.
Johnson and Li were neck and neck after eight holes with one birdie to show in their rounds. But Li moved ahead with a chipped-in birdie from a difficult position on the ninth to take a one-shot lead into the back nine.
It took a lipped-out par putt from less than two feet on the par-4 10th hole to finally wake up Johnson. He hit a brilliant tee shot on the par-3 11th to tap-in distance to catch up with Li, and then made a 20-foot birdie putt on the par-4 12th to edge ahead by a shot.
The advantage doubled on the long and tough par-4 13th hole when Li made a bogey from the greenside bunker and followed it up with another on the 14th hole.
But there was more drama to come. Johnson hit his tee shot into the Red Sea on the picturesque par-3 16th hole. He did manage to make a 15-foot putt to avoid a double bogey and with Li making a birdie on the 15th, the lead was down to one shot going into the final two holes.
Johnson managed to birdie both, while Li could not convert his on the 17th after hitting a wild tee shot.
Li was in the news recently when he was controversially penalized two shots on the final hole of the Dubai Desert Classic under the new Rules of Golf after his caddie was deemed to have lined up his putt. The penalty dropped him from tied third place to a share of 12th position.
AFP
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