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Dustin Johnson holds off strong European challenge in Mexico
Becomes just fifth player to win first tournament as world No. 1
CNN
—
Dustin Johnson solidified his status at the top of golf’s world rankings, holding off a late challenge at the WGC-Mexico Championship to clinch a second successive PGA Tour victory.
The American, 32, closed with a round of 68 to finish 14-under par, one shot clear of England’s Tommy Fleetwood.
Johnson only secured top spot from Jason Day two weeks ago, strolling to a five-shot victory at California’s Genesis Open.
Now he has a fourth WGC title – more than anyone other than Tiger Woods (18) – and becomes just the fifth player in history to win his first tournament as world No. 1.
The only other players to do so are Ian Woosnam, David Duval, Vijay Singh and Adam Scott.
“It means a lot because it’s a tough spot to be in,” said Johnson, alluding to the “pressure” of his new berth.
“I played just well enough I guess because I won by one.”
The game’s perennial nearly man is making up for lost time.
Without a major win until last year’s US Open, Johnson could easily have faltered here after lashing his first drive of the tournament out-of-bounds.
Instead, final-round birdies at the eighth and ninth holes gave him a four-shot lead that would be reduced but not relinquished.
Justin Rose is only the fourth Englishman to hold the world No. 1 spot. Here's a look back at the other 22 golfers to hold the world No. 1 ranking.
Tim Bradbury/Getty Images North America/Getty Images
Brooks Koepka, US: 2 weeks at No. 1 —
Three major wins (US Open 2017, 2018; PGA Championship 2018).
JUNG YEON-JE/AFP/AFP/Getty Images
Justin Thomas, US: 4 weeks at No. 1 —
One major win (PGA Championship 2017)
Richard Heathcote/Getty Images North America/Getty Images
Dustin Johnson, US, 78 weeks at No. 1 —
One major win (2016 US Open)
Andrew Redington/Getty Images North America/Getty Images
Jason Day, Australia: 51 weeks at No. 1 —
One major win (PGA Championship 2015).
Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images North America/Getty Images
Jordan Spieth, US: 26 weeks —
Two major wins (Masters 2015; US Open 2015; British Open 2017).
Sam Greenwood/Getty Images North America/Getty Images
Adam Scott, Australia: 11 weeks —
One major win (Masters 2013).
Drew Hallowell/Getty Images North America/Getty Images
Rory McIlroy, Northern Ireland: 95 weeks —
Four major wins (US Open 2011; British Open 2014; PGA Championship 2012, 2014).
David Cannon/Getty Images North America/Getty Images
Luke Donald, England: 56 weeks —
No major wins.
Andrew Redington/Getty Images North America/Getty Images
Martin Kaymer, Germany: 8 weeks —
Two major wins (US Open 2014; PGA Championship 2010).
Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images North America/Getty Images
Lee Westwood, England: 22 weeks —
No major wins.
Andrew Redington/Getty Images North America/Getty Images
Tiger Woods, US: 683 weeks —
14 major wins (Masters 1997, 2001, 2002, 2005; US Open 2000, 2002, 2008; British Open 2000, 2005, 2006; PGA Championship 1999, 2000, 2006, 2007).
ROBYN BECK/AFP/AFP/Getty Images
Vijay Singh, Fiji: 32 weeks —
Three major wins (Masters 2000; PGA Championship 1998, 2004).
Sam Greenwood/Getty Images North America/Getty Images
David Duval, US: 15 weeks —
One major win (British Open 2001).
Andrew Redington/Getty Images Europe/Getty Images
Ernie Els, South Africa: 9 weeks —
Four major wins (US Open 1994, 1997; British Open 2002, 2012).
Warren Little/Getty Images Europe/Getty Images
Tom Lehman, US: 1 week —
One major win (British Open 1996).
Hunter Martin/Getty Images North America/Getty Images
Nick Price, Zimbabwe: 44 weeks —
Three major wins (British Open 1994; PGA Championship 1992, 1994).
David Cannon/Getty Images Europe/Getty Images
Fred Couples, US: 16 weeks —
One major win (Masters 1992).
Robert Laberge/Getty Images North America/Getty Images
Ian Woosnam, Wales: 50 weeks —
One major win (Masters 1991).
Warren Little/Getty Images Europe/Getty Images
Nick Faldo, England: 97 weeks —
Six major wins (Masters 1989, 1990 and 1996, The Open 1987, 1990 and 1992).
Andrew Redington/Getty Images Europe/Getty Images
Greg Norman, Australia: 331 weeks —
Two major wins (The Open 1986 and 1993).
Warren Little/Getty Images Europe/Getty Images
Seve Ballesteros, Spain: 61 weeks —
Five major wins (Masters 1980 and 1983, The Open 1979, 1984 and 1988).
Andrew Redington/Getty Images Europe/Getty Images
Bernhard Langer, Germany: 3 weeks —
Two major wins (Masters 1985, 1993).
Darren Carroll/Getty Images North America/Getty Images
The 22 top-ranked golfers: From Bernhard Langer to Justin Rose
European consolation
There was plenty for Denmark’s Thomas Bjorn to think about, looking ahead to Team Europe’s challenge at the 2018 Ryder Cup.
While Johnson held his nerve, taking home $1.6 million for his troubles, the rest of the top five was populated by Europeans.
WGC Mexico Championship leaderboard
-14 D Johnson (US); -13 T Fleetwood (Eng); -12 R Fisher (Eng), J Rahm (Spa); -11 T Pieters (Bel), J Thomas (US); -10 B Snedeker (US), P Mickelson (US), R McIlroy (NI)
Halfway leader Rory McIlroy was not among them, carding a final-round 71 to finish four shots back.
But both Fleetwood and promising young Spaniard Jon Rahm Rodríguez will be content with their showings, picking up the biggest paydays of their respective careers.
Fleetwood in particular could barely conceal his delight, even if he did botch his celebrations after sinking a monster 40-foot putt on the eighteenth.
“That last putt was a big one wasn’t it?!” said the 26-year-old. “It was just nice to have a chance going down the stretch and it just shows you’re never quite out of it if you just hang in there.”
