Dustin Johnson runs away with Genesis Open and takes over No 1 spot in the world golf rankings
American wins by five strokes to become new number one in the world
For three days, the Genesis Open was shrouded with unknowns, be it the weather, how Arnold Palmer’s grandson would do after leading, or if the golf tour would have a new world No 1 after almost a year.
When the final round started around noon on a marathon Sunday at Riviera Country Club, there were absolutely no questions left to answer. Dustin Johnson had made sure of that, with a performance that was utterly dominating.
Johnson led by as many nine strokes early in the fourth round. He played the final holes as if he had a large lead and was content to protect it, explaining his final margin of five strokes. He finished at 17-under-par.
When Johnson bogeyed the ninth hole, it was the first time he didn’t get a par or birdie in 50 holes. He followed with bogeys on 15 and 16 to shoot an even-par 71.
Johnson really won the tournament with a 64 in Sunday morning’s third round. He started the final 18 with a five-stroke lead and increased it with birdies on the first two holes and another on the sixth as others fell back.