Johnson strikes again in Saudi

Dustin Johnson held off the challenges of Tony Finau and Victor Perez to claim his second Saudi International title.

That was two clear of Finau and Justin Rose, as the world no.1 overcame an indifferent day with the putter to capture his ninth European Tour title and the €475,000 first prize.

“Conditions when we started were really tough,” Johnson said. “I knew I was hitting it well, I saw the leaderboard and I knew the guys were playing well. I kept giving myself chances – I didn’t hole any of them, but I hit good shots and I finally holed a really nice putt on 13 and from there on I played solid.”

He added: “I don’t get to play around the world as much as I’d like to, so it’s definitely nice to get a win on the European Tour, and my first since Augusta in November. My game’s still in really good shape and I’m looking forward to the rest of the year.”

Johnson started the final round with a two-shot lead over Perez, but saw that advantage halved by the time they had reached the turn. The reigning Masters champion missed a six footer for eagle on the fourth and the subsequent tap-in proved to be his only birdie on the front nine, before he missed birdie chances from six feet at the tenth and 12th.

A hat-trick of birdies from the 11th saw Finau join his Ryder Cup colleague at the top of the leaderboard and at that stage the longest putt Johnson had made all day was from five feet. However, he drained an 11 footer for birdie at the 13th to edge back in front.

Finau three-putted the 16th to drop two back, although Johnson and Perez in the group behind also found problems on the par three. The Frenchman hit his tee shot into a swale to the right of the green and, after pitching through the putting surface, ran up a double bogey to end his challenge.

Johnson failed to get up and down from a greenside bunker but, after Finau had bogeyed the 17th attempting to force the issue, Johnson produced a magnificent drive on the same hole to leave a simple up and down for birdie.

There was still some drama to be had on the last – Finau was a whisker away from holing out from the sand for eagle, while Johnson found a bunker off the tee and almost picked out another trap with his lay-up. However, once his ball settled on the fairway he was able to conservatively pitch to the middle of the green and two putt for the win.

Rose made five birdies in a flawless closing 65, while Perez missed a birdie chance on the last to finish alongside Scotland’s Calum Hill in fourth.

For the full final leaderboard from the Saudi International, click here.