AKRON, Ohio — Dustin Johnson sailed off to the Bahamas for a private celebration of winning his first major championship at the U.S. Open.
He came roaring back at the Bridgestone Invitational.
In the toughest conditions at Firestone in nearly a decade, Johnson made it look easy Sunday when he closed with a 4-under 66 and rallied from a three-shot deficit against the world’s No. 1 player to win another World Golf Championship.
He needed some help from Jason Day, who collapsed on the back nine. Johnson did his part, making a tough par save on the 15th hole when he got in range and pouring in a 15-foot birdie putt on the 17th hole that made a bogey at the end meaningless.
Two starts, two victories, and now No. 2 in the world.
“It’s the first time I’ve won two tournaments in a row. I mean, that’s big,” Johnson said after his one-shot victory over Scott Piercy.
“I’m excited and looking forward to going over to the British with the golf game in good form.”
Day also was looking forward to the British Open, anything to take his mind off the finish.
He had a one-shot lead and didn’t hit a green in regulation over the last six holes. Far more damaging was the par-5 16th hole.
He tried to play it safe off the tee on the 655-yard hole and hooked a 3-wood into the trees.
He blasted through the branches and across the fairway, getting a good break when a young fan picked up his ball because it allowed Day a free drop from behind a tree.
Then, he tried to squeeze a shot from 200 yards around the pond. It came up short and rode the collar of the bank into the water, leading to double bogey.
“I thought I had the right play,” Day said. “I was just trying to hit it up there to the left, get it just left of the bunker or just in the bunker there. … Sometimes you take those risks and it doesn’t pay off. So it happens, but I’m looking forward to the Open.”
Day closed with a 72 and tied for third with Jordan Spieth (67), Matt Kuchar (66) and Kevin Chappell (67).
David Lingmerth (Arkansas Razorbacks) finished tied for seventh at 2 under and won $233,333.
Kuchar moved to No. 15 in the world, which could be important if he can stay in the top 15 and remain the sixth-highest American after next week, provided two Americans choose not to play in the Olympics. Bubba Watson is the only player of those eligible who has said for certain he will go to Rio.
PGA
Chalmers breaks through
RENO, Nev. — Greg Chalmers won the Barracuda Championship at Montreux for his first PGA Tour title, making eagle on the final hole for a six-point victory in the modified Stableford scoring event.
Chalmers, 42, broke through in his 386th start after entering the week as the active player with the most events without a victory.
A point ahead of Gary Woodland and needing at least a par on the par-5 18th to wrap up the victory, Chalmers made an 8-foot eagle putt after hitting a 320-yard drive and 230-yard approach. A few minutes earlier in the group ahead, Woodland three-putted for a bogey on 18.
Chalmers had a four-point round to finish with 43 in the system that awards eight points for double eagle, five for eagle, two for birdie and deducts a point for bogey and three for double bogey or worse.
He also had two birdies and five bogeys, the last two on Nos. 15 and 17.
The left-hander earned a two-year tour exemption and a spot in the British Open at Royal Troon.
Andrew Landry (Arkansas Razorbacks) scored 7 points Sunday to finish with 21 and left him in a tie for 35th. Ken Duke (Arkadelphia, Henderson State) was tied for 44th after 2 final-round points gave him 19 for the tournament.
LPGA
Henderson wins again
PORTLAND, Ore. — Defending champion Brooke Henderson survived some tense moments on the back nine on the way to a fourstroke victory Sunday at the LPGA Cambia Portland Classic.
The second-ranked Henderson, who missed the cut at last week’s Wal-Mart NW Arkansas Championship in Rogers, shot a 14-under 274 after a final round 71 at Columbia Edgewater Country Club, pulling away from Stacy Lewis (Arkansas Razorbacks), who was 10-under after a 69.
Henderson became the first back-to-back winner at Portland since Annika Sorenstam won consecutive tournaments in 2002 and 2003. The 18-year-old is the first wire-towire winner at Portland since the tournament went to a 72-hole event in 2013.
Henderson is the tour’s second wire-to-wire winner this year, joining Ha Na Jang, who won the Coates Championship in February.
It was Henderson’s third career win, all coming in the Northwest.
Aside from her two Portland victories, Henderson won the Women’s PGA Championship at Sahalee in Sammamish, Wash., three weeks ago.
Gaby Lopez (Razorbacks) finished tied for 19th after a final round 3-under 69 left her 4 under for the tournament.
FRENCH OPEN
Jaidee takes title
SAINT-QUENTIN-ENYVELINES, France — Thongchai Jaidee produced an impressive display of front-running to win the French Open by four strokes, as Rory McIlroy failed to deliver a final-round surge on Sunday.
Starting the day with a twostroke lead over McIlroy, the 46-year-old Jaidee birdied two of his first six holes and shot a 3-under 68 to finish on 11-under 273 at Le Golf National outside Paris, where the 2018 Ryder Cup will be staged.
For his eighth victory on the European Tour, the Thai player collected $650,000 — the biggest cheque of his career.
He described his fourth victory over the age of 40 as his “biggest win ever.”
“I had Rory two shots behind me but I tried to play my own game, hit a lot of fairways and greens,” said Jaidee, “and I knew this week I was putting well.”
Francesco Molinari finished in second place after shooting 66, the lowest round of the final day.
McIlroy couldn’t get near Jaidee.
He bogeyed No. 3 and made his only birdie on No. 14, shooting an even-par 71 to be a stroke behind Molinari in third place.
Sports on 07/04/2016