• Tournament of Champions, Final Round

Johnson draws first blood in 2013

ESPN staff
January 8, 2013
Dustin Johnson remained ahead of the chasing pack in Hawaii to start 2013 with a win © Getty Images
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Tournament of Champions leaderboard

American Dustin Johnson turned a three-shot overnight lead into victory in the first PGA Tour competition of 2013: the Hyundai Tournament of Champions in Hawaii.

Johnson finished 16-under for the tournament with a final round 68 leaving him four shots ahead of his nearest rival Steve Stricker in second, while Brandt Snedeker was third.

England's Ian Poulter had his best round by far on the last day, carding a 69, but could only finish ninth.

The tournament's start was postponed due to heavy storms and as a result it was shortened to 54 holes. Johnson is fast becoming a specialist in truncated competitions and had two shortened victories under his belt already before triumphing in Kapalua.

But it was not all plain sailing for the 28-year-old from South Carolina when he lost his ball off the tee at the ninth hole, which dropped him down to 13-under. At that stage Snedeker looked the most likely to challenge him as he moved into second place thanks to four holes which he completed in 5-under par. Yet he dropped a shot on each of the final three holes of the front nine, relegating him back into the pack.

That gave Stricker back his second spot and although he kept it, he was unable to mount a serious threat to the long-hitting Johnson who effectively sealed his win when chipping in for eagle on 14 - which came a hole after he found all sorts of trouble off the tee on the 13th. A wild drive went into the undergrowth, he took two hacks to get out and it resulted in a double-bogey.

Rickie Fowler shot the best round on Tuesday but his 67 could only move him up to sixth. Fowler made six birdies and no bogeys in his first 15 holes. He hit a double bogey on the 17th but redeemed his card with an eagle at the 18th.

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
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