Dustin Johnson birdied his last two holes and claimed his first PGA Tour title on Sunday with a victory in the US$6 million Turning Stone Resort Championship.
Johnson carded a three-under 69 for nine-under total of 279 that put him one stroke in front of Australian Robert Allenby.
Allenby carded a two-under 70, but he could not manufacture a birdie on the back nine and suffered a costly bogey at the 15th.
PHOTO: AP
Starting the day two shots off the lead, Allenby was three-under on the front nine thanks to birdies at two, three and five.
He led with four holes to play, but in the end it was Johnson, playing his first full season on the US tour, who came through in the clutch.
He had five birdies in the round, capped by his birdie-birdie finish to claim the US$1.08 million first prize.
Johnson kick started his round with a 40-foot birdie putt at the par-three sixth and picked up another shot at the par-five eighth.
A bogey at 13, where he hit in the water, saw him slip back from Allenby, but the Australian bogeyed 15 to open the door.
“That was kind of the point where I knew that I had a chance,” Johnson said.
He kept his momentum with an up and down from a bunker at 16, then birdied the last two.
“I hit a very good drive,” he said. “I was in between my rescue and my three-iron, so I played rescue. Hit it good just right at the flag. It was a hair long and hit a pretty good chip and then had about a 12-footer straight up the hill and made it.”
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