Page 16 - aruba-today-20201116

A16 sports
Monday 16 noveMber 2020

Dustin Johnson buries some major memories, wins the Masters

By DOUG FERGUSON betting favorite and big-
AP Golf Writer gest basher in golf, Bryson
AUGUSTA, Ga. (AP) — In this DeChambeau, couldn't
one-of-a-kind Masters that even beat 63-year-old Ber-
had no fans and no roars, nhard Langer, who shot 71
Dustin Johnson made sure and wound up one shot
it had no drama. And when ahead of the U.S. Open
he polished off his five-shot champion.
victory Sunday with lowest These were only sideshows
score in tournament history, on a quiet Sunday at Au-
he had no words. gusta National.
Only tears. Johnson, the first No. 1
Looking smart in his Masters player in the world to win
green jacket he dreamed the Masters since Woods in
his whole life of winning, 2002, was the main event.
Johnson spoke to a small But even a record score,
gathering on the putting and the widest margin of
green in absence of the victory since 1997, didn't
official ceremony, but mean it was easy. This is
only briefly. In control of Johnson, after all, who for
every aspect of his game all his talent has dealt with
on a course that never al- more than his share of mis-
lows anyone to relax, he fortune, not all his own do-
couldn't speak when it was Tiger Woods helps Masters' champion Dustin Johnson with his green jacket after his victory at the ing. "I knew it wasn't going
over. Instead, he turned to Masters golf tournament Sunday, Nov. 15, 2020, in Augusta, Ga. Associated Press to be easy," he said.
wipe his eyes. After the big turning point
"I've never had this much chance. and his birdie putts on the restored his lead to three at No. 6, and his nifty par
trouble gathering myself," Johnson closed with a back nine that put it away. shots when Im missed a save from a bunker on the
Johnson finally said. "On 4-under 68 and finished at It wasn't the loneliest walk 3-foot par putt. Smith was seventh, Johnson didn't
the golf course, I'm pretty 20-under 268, breaking by up the hill to the 18th green. the only one who was clos- bother looking at a lead-
good at it." two shots the record set by About 250 people offering er than two the rest of the erboard until his brother
No one was better. Not Tiger Woods in 1997 and warm applause and part- way. Smith got quite the asked if he knew where he
even close. Johnson over- matched by Jordan Spieth ner Paulina Gretzky rushed consolation. He became stood on the 18th green.
came a nervous start that in 2015. He had only four onto the green to cel- the first player in Masters his- Johnson knew only that he
conjured memories of past bogeys in 72 holes, anoth- ebrate with Johnson and tory to post all four rounds was in control and it was up
majors he failed to finish off, er record, this one held by his brother, caddie Austin in the 60s, and all it got him to everyone else to catch
and then delivered a com- Jack Nicklaus and Jimmy Johnson. Johnson now has was a silver medal. him. "I took what the course
mand performance that Demaret. He missed only 12 two majors to go along with "I thought I'd have a decent gave me and hit the shots I
added his own touch to a greens all week, a record his 25 victories worldwide, a shot if I got to Dustin's origi- felt I could hit," he said.
Masters unlike another. last set by Woods. combination that validates nal score at the start of the And so ended the Masters
Because of the COVID-19 All that mattered was that him as one of the greats of day, 16 under," Smith said. "I in November, so strange
pandemic, it was the first green jacket. Nothing ever his generation. knew I had to put the pres- in so many ways. No roars
played in November. It comes easily for Johnson in "I'm sure a lot of you all think sure on early. Got out of from Amen Corner. Soft
was the first without ropes the majors. Nothing looked ... there were doubts in my the gates pretty good and conditions — not only from
and without roars because so natural as seeing Woods, mind, just because I had DJ was just too good at the rain that delayed the start
patrons were not allowed, the defending champion, been there. I'm in this posi- end." Johnson became but an autumn date that
only one guest for each help him into that size 42 tion a lot of times," Johnson the 12th Masters champi- affected the grass — led
player, coaches, Augusta long in Butler Cabin. said. "When am I going to on to never trail after any to record scoring. The av-
National members and of- "Having Tiger put it on was have the lead and finish- round, and his closing 68 erage score for the week
ficials. awesome. You wouldn't ing off a major? It definitely broke another record held was 71.75, the lowest ever,
Leading by two shots want it any other way," proved that I can do it." by Woods — it was his 11th breaking the record from
heading into Amen Corner, Johnson said. And then he There were some nervous consecutive subpar round last year.
the world's No. 1 player got smiled before adding, "But moments early. at Augusta National. Gone were the white and
through the 12th hole — any guy could put it on me Johnson's four-shot lead No one had a better finish pink blooms of azaleas and
where Tiger Woods earlier and I'd be just fine." was reduced to one af- than Woods, but only after dogwoods, replaced by
hit three balls in Rae's Creek His five-shot victory was the ter five holes, and then he the five-time Masters cham- autumn hues of brown and
and made 10 — and then largest at the Masters since quickly restored control pion posted the highest gold.
ran off three straight bird- Woods won by 12 in 1997. with an 8-iron to 6 feet on score of his career on the The Masters, though, in any
ies to pull away from Cam- All that was missing were the top shelf on the right 12th hole. He finished with month is defined by green.
eron Smith and Sungjae Im, the roars from a crowd for corner of the green at the five birdies over the last six And the jacket fit Johnson
the only players who had a any of his pivotal putts early par-3 sixth for birdie. That holes to salvage a 76. The well.q