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Wan LixinOpinion deputy editor of Shanghai Daily
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Lucky winner Johnson handed a WGC berth
Source: Agencies |
February 18, 2009, Wednesday
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Print Edition
Print Edition
AMERICAN Dustin Johnson booked his place in next week's WGC-Accenture Match Play Championship in Arizona by winning the weather-hit Pebble Beach National Pro-Am on Monday.
A PGA Tour rookie last year, Johnson qualified for the first World Golf Championship event of the season by moving into the top 64 in the world rankings.
The 24-year-old climbed from 119th to a career-high 45th after clinching his second Tour title in California.
"I couldn't be more excited and it couldn't have come at a better time either," Johnson told reporters after organizers abandoned the final round at a saturated Pebble Beach Golf Links.
Dane Anders Hansen and South African Charl Schwartzel also secured WGC spots by breaking into the top 64. Hansen climbed from 65th to 51st by winning the South African Tour's Vodacom Championship where Schwartzel tied for second to rise from 67th to 63rd.
No play was possible on Sunday because of heavy rain and strong winds on Monday morning with the course under water forced organizers to call it off.
It was the first PGA Tour event decided after 54 holes since Phil Mickelson won the 2005 BellSouth Classic.
"Any time you win it opens up lots of doors for you as far as moving you up on the money list and getting the two-year (Tour) exemption," a beaming Johnson told reporters. "I was fortunate enough to play really well this week."
Johnson led second-placed Canadian Mike Weir by four shots on Saturday after a five-under-par 67 gave him a 15-under total of 201.
The 24-year-old American, who clinched his maiden victory at the 2008 Turning Stone Resort Championship in his rookie season, earned the winner's check of US$1.09 million and a debut at the US Masters in April.
"Winning this tournament means a lot especially because now I get to play at Augusta," Johnson said. "It's always been a dream for me to go there and I'm very excited about that, especially only being about 45 minutes from where I grew up. I couldn't be more happy."
Although heavy rain had been forecast for Monday, Johnson went through his usual pre-round routine.
"I woke up this morning and got ready," he said. "I did everything normal like we were going to play. I would have liked to have played today but unfortunately we couldn't," added Johnson after benefiting from the first Monday finish here since Tiger Woods triumphed here in 2000.
A PGA Tour rookie last year, Johnson qualified for the first World Golf Championship event of the season by moving into the top 64 in the world rankings.
The 24-year-old climbed from 119th to a career-high 45th after clinching his second Tour title in California.
"I couldn't be more excited and it couldn't have come at a better time either," Johnson told reporters after organizers abandoned the final round at a saturated Pebble Beach Golf Links.
Dane Anders Hansen and South African Charl Schwartzel also secured WGC spots by breaking into the top 64. Hansen climbed from 65th to 51st by winning the South African Tour's Vodacom Championship where Schwartzel tied for second to rise from 67th to 63rd.
No play was possible on Sunday because of heavy rain and strong winds on Monday morning with the course under water forced organizers to call it off.
It was the first PGA Tour event decided after 54 holes since Phil Mickelson won the 2005 BellSouth Classic.
"Any time you win it opens up lots of doors for you as far as moving you up on the money list and getting the two-year (Tour) exemption," a beaming Johnson told reporters. "I was fortunate enough to play really well this week."
Johnson led second-placed Canadian Mike Weir by four shots on Saturday after a five-under-par 67 gave him a 15-under total of 201.
The 24-year-old American, who clinched his maiden victory at the 2008 Turning Stone Resort Championship in his rookie season, earned the winner's check of US$1.09 million and a debut at the US Masters in April.
"Winning this tournament means a lot especially because now I get to play at Augusta," Johnson said. "It's always been a dream for me to go there and I'm very excited about that, especially only being about 45 minutes from where I grew up. I couldn't be more happy."
Although heavy rain had been forecast for Monday, Johnson went through his usual pre-round routine.
"I woke up this morning and got ready," he said. "I did everything normal like we were going to play. I would have liked to have played today but unfortunately we couldn't," added Johnson after benefiting from the first Monday finish here since Tiger Woods triumphed here in 2000.
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