Dustin Johnson claimed the WGC-Mexico Championship for the second time in three years with a five-shot victory. Picture by GETTY IMAGES
DUSTIN Johnson won his second European Tour title of the season as he cruised to a stunning five-shot victory at the WGC-Mexico Championship.
The American is the only player to have won all four World Golf Championships events.
And the 2016 US Open winner took his tally to six WGC titles at Chapultepec Golf Club with a third triumph in the event.
The 2017 champion began the final day with a four-shot lead and while Rory McIlroy cut that gap to two in the early stages, Johnson recovered from just a second blemish of the week to sign for a 66 and finish at 21-under.
Johnson said: “This is a big one for me and it gives me a lot of confidence for the rest of the year. I feel like the game’s in good form right now.
“It’s been a little bit since I’ve been in the lead with this kind of field and this calibre of players.
“I know Rory’s playing really well, he was not too far behind me, so I definitely felt some nerves there at the beginning of the day.
“I made some really good par saves early in the round on the front nine and that kind of gave me the momentum.
“I knew I was still swinging it well, I just had to give myself some chances and turned it on on the back nine.
“Me and Rory both played a really good back nine.,” added the 34-year-old who also extended his winning season run to 12.
Johnson has now won in consecutive starts on the European Tour after his victory at the Saudi International and will move up to second in the Official World Golf Ranking.
McIlroy put on an excellent show of his own, making six birdies on the back nine in a 67, but still had to settle for a sixth runner-up finish since his last European Tour win at the 2016 Dubai Duty Free Irish Open.
But Rory feels he is getting closer and closer to recording his first win since the Arnold Palmer Invitational at Bay Hill nearly a year ago.
McIlroy said: “It was good. Some weeks you play well and someone just plays better and that’s what DJ did this week.
“When DJ has got a four-shot lead and goes out and shoots five-under par, he’s not going to lose.
“My game is right there, I’m really happy with everything.
“I’ve just got to stay patient, look at the positives and just keep persisting, putting myself in positions and sooner or later it’ll go my way.”
Thailand’s Kiradech Aphibarnrat and English pair Paul Casey and Ian Poulter were then 10 shots off the lead in a distant tie for third, one clear of American Patrick Cantlay, Spaniard Sergio Garcia and Australian Cameron Smith.
Casey, who revealed his caddy had printed off the pin sheet for the third round from the Puerto Rico Open by mistake, sparking a huge amount of mirth on Twitter, said: “My game feels really good.
“I was very happy with the up and down, obviously. There was a lot of world ranking points, FedEx points.
“This is obviously a co-sanctioned, as European Tour Race to Dubai points. I mean, it’s everything.
“It was a big deal and playing a limited schedule between both tours, it’s important I capitalise events like this.
“I want to be kind of in the thick of things and maybe with a chance to win a Race to Dubai as well, that would be really fun.
“So, big stuff. Game’s good, looking forward to it.”
Ryder Cup team-mate Ian Poulter was pleasantly surprised by his display on the greens.
Poulter said: “I had a week off skiing. I went back home, hit balls, didn’t really hit it very well.
“Came here, didn’t feel great went, so I didn’t do an awful lot of putting, to be honest.
“So, I can’t give you the answer why I putted nicely this week. I think my pace was good.
“I felt comfortable with the speed of the greens and the way the slopes all kind of sloped a bit.
“It’s a great finish. I’m happy where my golf is, I’m happy where everyone else is, and I’m just enjoying myself.”
American Justin Thomas matched his own course record with a 62 to finish at nine-under, a shot clear of Dutchman Joost Luiten, who finished his week with an impressive 64.
Keegan Bradley, Alfred Dunhill Championship winner David Lipsky and 14-time Major Champion Tiger Woods were also 13 shots off the lead.
