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SPORTS Monday 11 June 2018
Dustin Johnson reclaims world's top spot with St. Jude win

By TERESA M. WALKER The way Johnson's playing, saved par with a 16-foot
MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) — he sees no reason why he putt to protect his two-
Dustin Johnson is back in couldn't be the first. stroke lead. Then Johnson
his spot as the world's top- "I know what it takes," hit a drive 359 yards on the
ranked golfer thanks to a Johnson said. "I'm going to par-4 No. 13, leaving him 95
dominant victory capped have to play a lot like I did yards to the pin. Johnson
by an absolutely amazing this week if I want to win then hit his approach to 3
hole-out for eagle. next week." feet for his second birdie to
"What a cool way to end Topping his walk-off eagle go 16 under. He previewed
the day," Johnson said. won't be easy. In the his dramatic finish on the
Johnson shot a 4-under 66 intermediate rough to the par-5 16th. Johnson's tee
on Sunday making the St. right of the fairway, Johnson shot found the trees right
Jude Classic his second hit 9-iron and watched as of the fairway, and he
PGA Tour victory this year the ball bounced twice threaded a shot through
and 18th of his career to before rolling into the cup a couple trees to just off
take back the No. 1 ranking to bring fans to their feet. the green. He chipped to
he held for 64 straight Johnson said he couldn't 5 feet and birdied for a
weeks before falling to No. tell if the ball went in for a four-stroke lead. NOTES:
2 behind Justin Thomas a few seconds. Johnson was the first on tour
month ago . Johnson won "Luckily I did watch him hit to win by holing out from
the event for the second that last shot and that was off the green since Jordan
time, finishing with the pretty special, so that was Spieth at the 2017 Travelers
eagle, three birdies and a fun to see," Putnam said of Championship. ... Johnson Dustin Johnson chips onto the fifth green during final round of
bogey for a 19-under 261 Johnson's eagle. has won nine times when the St. Jude Classic golf tournament Sunday, June 10, 2018, in
total. J.B. Holmes (67) was at 9 having at least a share of Memphis, Tenn. Johnson won the tournament at 19-under-par
261.
"It means a lot," Johnson under. Stewart Cink (72) the 54-hole lead.q Associated Press
said of reclaiming the No. 1 and Richy Werenski (71)
ranking. "It was a long way tied at 8 under. Brandt
to get there, and I held it for Snedeker (70) and Retief
a long time and obviously Goosen (66) tied four others
JT took it from me for a little at 7 under.
while. It was nice to finish Phil Mickelson had a 65 and
like that and get it back." was at 6 under.
Andrew Putnam started the Putnam, a two-time winner
final round with a share of on the Web.com Tour, had
the lead for the first time in only one bogey through
his career. He shot 72 and his first three rounds. He
finished at 13 under. pushed his opening tee
"I feel like I steadied the shot into the right rough
ship a little bit after a rough and his approach in the
start," said Putnam, who rough left of the green. He
secured his card for the wound up three-putting for
year with his best finish yet. double bogey. Johnson
Preparing for the U.S. Open, rolled in a 4-footer for par
Johnson took the lead to and a two-stroke lead at 15
himself with a par on No. under on a sizzling day with
1, while Putnam double- the temperature feeling
bogeyed, and cruised to like 99.
the $1.18 million winner's Johnson worked on
check. Johnson turned keeping the ball in the
in the lowest score under fairway, hitting 3-wood off
par by a winner here since the tee on the first of the
David Toms at 20 under in course's two par 5s. Even
2003 — before the course with the 3-wood, Johnson
was redesigned dropping had the second-longest
par from 71 to 70 after the drive of the day, hitting 333
2004 tournament. yards on the 554-yard hole.
Johnson, who won the Even when Johnson
U.S. Open in 2016, heads three-putt No. 5 to drop
to Shinnecock Hills after to 15 under, Putnam also
stringing together four bogeyed protecting
straight rounds in the 60s. Johnson's lead at three
He went 67, 63 and 65 strokes. Putnam pulled
before wrapping up a final within two strokes with a
round that felt almost like birdie on No. 7, rolling a
a practice round with the putt 11 feet after Johnson
only question remaining parred the hole.
how low Johnson would go Johnson hit an iron 307
until his final dramatic shot. yards off the tee at No. 10
Nobody has ever won on . After hitting iron off the
the PGA Tour and followed tee at No. 12 and going left
by winning the U.S. Open. of the cart path, Johnson