Dustin Johnson completes comeback with victory at Doral

DORAL, Fla. — It didn’t take long – exactly a month – for Dustin Johnson to find his game after his extended break from the PGA Tour and stamp himself as a Masters Tournament favorite.

Johnson emerged from a three-man back-nine battle with J.B. Holmes, who was trying to be a wire-to-wire winner, and 2014 Masters Tournament champion Bubba Watson, to win the WGC-Cadillac Championship on Sunday.

Johnson, who trailed Holmes by five shots at the start of play, closed with 3-under-par 69 to finish at 9-under 279 and win by one at tough Trump Doral National.

He moved up from 16th to seventh in the world golf ranking.

Holmes, who made only one birdie Sunday after making 17 and two eagles in the first three rounds, including an opening 62, finished with 75.

Watson led by two shots after 10 holes but faded on the back nine and finished two shots behind Johnson in third after 71.

Adam Scott, the 2013 Masters Tour­nament champion who played with a conventional putter this week for the first time since Doral in 2011, shot 71 and tied for fourth with Henrik Stenson, who had 72. They finished five behind Johnson.

Johnson has never contended in the Masters – his best finish is a tie for 13th in five starts – despite his long-hitting ability (he led the field this week in driving distance at 328 yards per drive). That could change this year.

“My game’s in good form right now,” he said, when asked about the Masters. “I feel really confident in my golf swing. At Augusta you’ve got to hit quality iron shots and control your ball and your distance. I think I did that really well this week in very tough conditions. I like tough golf courses. I generally play very well. Going into Augusta, it’s another tough course. I need to do some work with the putter and short game, especially leading into Augusta.”

Johnson, 30, took a two-shot lead with a birdie on No. 14 and turned in solid pars on the final four holes to hold off Holmes. Johnson’s par on the challenging 18th hole came after bogeys there in each of the first three rounds.

Johnson didn’t play from late July last year until early February “to improve my mental health, physical well-being and emotional foundation” he said in a statement before dropping off the tour.

After missing the cut in his first tournament back in on Feb. 6 in San Diego,
Johnson finished tied for fourth at Pebble Beach the following week, lost in a playoff at Riviera the next week, then missed the cut last week at the Honda Classic.

This was his ninth PGA Tour win, but first since another World Golf Championship event, the HSBC Champions in 2013.

“This one was definitely the best,” Johnson said. “It means everything. It’s been a tough road, but a lot of good things came out of it. It feels awesome to get that W. I played awesome today.

Holmes, who was paired with Johnson, agreed.

“Even if I had a little bit of an off-day, I knew it would take a good round to beat me and 69 out here is pretty freaking good today.” Holmes said.

His five-shot lead after 54 holes was gone by the fifth hole. Holmes was 3-over through six holes while Wat­son, who birdied three of his first four holes, was 3-under.

Watson, who shot 32 on the front nine, led by two going into the back nine, but after Watson made bogeys on Nos. 11, 12 and 14 to fall back. He closed with 39 on the back, but didn’t seem too disappointed.

“For sure, it gives me confidence,” Watson said. “If you look at my record in the last five or so tournaments, it’s really good. That’s what I’m looking forward to: the gradual climb to the top and being consistent.”

Holmes’ lone birdie in the final round came on the 16th hole and cut Johnson’s lead to one, which is how it finished.

“I hit a lot great putts, but it was just one of those days when none of them went in,” Holmes said. “I was just burning the edges all day. It’s part of golf. I had a great week. God still loves me, my family still loves me so it’s just a game. I’m disappointed I didn’t win, but it was a great learning experience.”