Dustin Johnson Takes Down Spieth in Playoff

The day after Floyd Mayweather took down Conor McGregor in 10 rounds, two of golf’s heavyweights stepped into the ring during the final round of The Northern Trust and it lived up to the hype. Current World No. 1 Dustin Johnson fired a final-round 66 to chase down and force a playoff with reigning Open Champion Jordan Speith, which DJ would go on to win on the first playoff hole. 

Johnson started the day three shots behind at Glen Oaks Club in Old Westbury, New York, but the lead quickly grew to five after Spieth birdied two of his first five holes. However, momentum shifted on the par-3 sixth hole when Spieth misjudged his tee shot and it came up short in the water leading to a double bogey. Then on the par-4 ninth Spieth made another bogey while DJ carded his first birdie of the day, but more importantly, it was the second two-shot swing in four holes.

They made the turn and Johnson tied the lead one hole later with a birdie on the par-4 10th. The two traded body-blows birdies on the par-5 13th, then Spieth took the lead with a three on the par-4 14th. DJ then countered with a birdie of his own on the par-3 15th.

After pars on 16 and 17, DJ was forced to lay up on the par-4 18th and needed to hole a downhill, 17-foot slider to send it to a playoff, and in true number one fashion, he delivered.

They signed their cards and the two men went back to the 18th for the playoff. That’s when Johnson delivered a 341-yard haymaker, taking a line off the tee that nobody else dared to all week, leaving himself 95 yards into the green. Meanwhile, Spieth had 175!

Johnson stuffed his approach to three feet, and the rest was history. 

This was DJ’s fourth win of the season and his fourth career FedEx Cup Playoff victory. He also is now atop the season-long standings. As for Spieth, this was the first time he’s blown a lead with a two or more shot lead in six tries. However, his consolation prize is rising to number two in the race for the Cup.

Jon Rahm and Jhonattan Vegas finished tied for third at 9-under par. Paul Casey was solo fifth. Rory McIlroy, who’s still fighting that nagging rib injury, finished T-34 and is still scheduled to compete next week in Boston.

Here’s a look at the final round highlights and results from the 2017 Northern Trust:

The next stop on the PGA Tour is the second FedEx Cup Playoff event  (top 100): Dell Technologies Championship at TPC Boston in Norton, Massachusets.

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