American Dustin Johnson believes he can win a maiden major title after recovering superbly from having his overnight three-shot lead wiped out in just two holes to claim the WGC-HSBC Champions in Shanghai yesterday.
Johnson played the last six holes in five under par at Sheshan International Golf Club to card a closing 66 and finish 24 under par, three ahead of last year’s champion Ian Poulter.
All three members of the final group of Johnson, Poulter and Graeme McDowell shot 66, meaning Poulter finished one ahead of Ryder Cup team-mate McDowell, with Spain’s Sergio Garcia two shots behind in fourth after a closing 63.
US Open champion Justin Rose was fifth on 16 under and Rory McIlroy’s share of sixth with Canada’s Graham DeLaet on 15 under was more than enough to secure the former world number one’s place in the season-ending DP World Tour Championship in Dubai.
“I didn’t get off to the best start and Poulter and McDowell got off to great starts to put the pressure on me,” said Johnson.
“I am swinging the club well and putting well, so I stuck to my game plan and played the golf course how I wanted to play it.”
Johnson claimed his eighth PGA Tour title and the first prize of £856,000.
Having decided not to play in the Turkish Airlines Open, McIlroy had to climb from 62nd in the money list – which he won last year – to go inside the top 60 to qualify for Dubai, and did so with plenty to spare.