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A20 SPORTS
Monday 25 February 2019
Johnson cruises to 20th career title in Mexico Championship

By DOUG FERGUSON went left and his ball settled top 10 of the year, but it
AP Golf Writer behind a tree. He asked wasn't all that inspiring. He
MEXICO CITY (AP) — Dustin for relief and was denied. again struggled on the poa
Johnson struggled early, McIlroy said he wanted to greens of Chapultepec.
caught a good break from chip away from the fairway Over the last two rounds,
behind a tree and then to an open area, and Woods hit 31 out of 36
breezed to his sixth World when he showed European greens in regulation and
Golf Championship title Tour official Mike Stewart only had scores of 70 and
Sunday by closing with a his intended shot, his right 69 to show for it.
5-under 66 for a five-shot foot was on the path. For the second straight
victory over Rory McIlroy in However, to play at that day, he declined to speak
the Mexico Championship. angle, a 4-inch nob on the to reporters and gave
Johnson won for the 20th trunk blocked the path of comments only to a PGA
time on the PGA Tour, his club, meaning McIlroy Tour official.
making him a lifetime wouldn't be able to make The best round belonged to
member at age 34. contact. Justin Thomas, who closed
He felt just as good about To play out left-handed, with a 62 before heading
the way his game is McIlroy would have had off to the Honda Classic
headed. Johnson had to stretch his foot to reach to defend his title. Thomas
said on Thursday he was the path. In both cases, was 8 under through 10
starting to swing it as well relief was denied. Stewart holes when his tee shot on
as he did two years ago, said he asked McIlroy if he the par-3 third hole landed
when he won three straight wanted a second opinion, inches behind the hole and
tournaments to become and McIlroy declined. He spun 40 feet away.
the dominant figure in golf punched out left-handed, Even so, this day was all
until his spill down the stairs and his third shot went into about Johnson.
on the eve of the Masters the water, leading to a It was the eighth time he has
led to a back injury. bogey. built a 54-hole lead of three
"This gives me a lot of Johnson made an 8-foot shots or more, including
confidence for the rest of birdie, the lead was up to one year at Pebble Beach
the year," he said. U.S. golfer Dustin Johnson poses with his Mexico Championship five shots and Johnson took when the final round was
McIlroy was five behind trophy at the Chapultepec Golf Club in Mexico City, Sunday, it from there. rained out. Johnson only
at the turn and ran off six Feb. 24, 2019. Johnson finished at gave McIlroy a glimmer of
birdies in a seven-hole Associated Press 21-under 263, the lowest hope early, and no hope
stretch before closing with score by five shots in the on the back nine as they
a meaningless bogey for a was cut in half in just three curb of a cart path. three years at Chapultepec matched birdies on three
67. Johnson was right there holes. Leading by three, He was given free relief, Golf Club. McIlroy continue straight holes through the
with him with five birdies on the tournament turned on carved a punch shot under his solid run. This was his 16th.
the back nine. two holes and two trees. the tree limbs and two- fourth consecutive finish in Johnson goes to No. 2 in
The only drama came Johnson hit iron off the tee putted from 50 feet for an the top 5, the longest such the world by a fraction of
early. to the right at No. 5 and his unlikely par. streak of his career. a point, and will return to
Johnson had to make an ball settled right behind a "I got a fortunate break Paul Casey (65), Ian No. 1 the following week
18-foot par on No. 2 to tree. He called for a ruling, there on No. 5 and ended Poulter (68) and Kiradech based on the two-year
avoid a two-shot swing. and showed the official up making a nice par," he Aphibarnrat (68) tied for computations because
He had to make a 6-foot that with a shot slightly said. "Sometimes the rules third, though they were 10 neither Johnson nor Justin
putt to salvage bogey on behind toward the fairway, work to your advantage." shots behind. Rose are playing next
the next hole, and his lead his right heel was on the On the par-5 sixth, McIlroy Tiger Woods got his first week.q
Martin Trainer wins Puerto Rico Open for 1st PGA Tour title

Golf and Country Club for point where the pressure is "I never had the luxury of
a three-stroke victory over like maxed out in your brain making a plan, I was just try-
four players. and you just do whatever ing to play as many events
Making his 11th PGA Tour you can to make contact as I could," Trainer said. "So
start, Trainer birdied four of and hit putts forward," now I guess that will be a
the last 10 holes to finish at Trainer said. "At the end little different, I'll be able
15-under 273. I had no idea if my putts to pick and choose where
"It's obviously incredible," were going to go like four 4 I want to go and have a
Trainer said. "I never thought by or 4 feet short. You just little more flexibility with my
that I would be able to win have no feel, the pressure is schedule. It's just such a
on the PGA Tour. I man- just overwhelming you." great feeling to be able to
aged do it today and that's Trainer earned $540,000 have that. I'm just trying to
just incredible." along with a two-year ex- let it sink in."
Martin Trainer of California kisses the championship cup af- The 27-year-old former Uni- emption on the PGA Tour Third-round leader Aaron
ter winning the Puerto Rico Open PGA golf tournament in Rio versity of Southern Califor- and an exemption to the Baddeley shot a 72 to tie
Grande, Puerto Rico, Sunday, Feb. 24, 2019. nia won twice last year on PGA Championship, but for second with Daniel
Associated Press the Web.com Tour and fin- didn't get an invitation to Berger (66), Roger Sloan
ished fourth on the money the Masters in the event (67) and Johnson Wagner
RIO GRANDE, Puerto Rico Sunday for his first PGA Tour list to earn a spot on the big played opposite the World (69). At No. 72, Berger was
(AP) — Martin Trainer won title, closing with a 5-under tour. Golf Championships' Mexi- the highest ranked player
the Puerto Rico Open on 67 at windy Coco Beach "There comes a certain co Championship. in the field.q