Golf Results - 22 January 2013

America’s Dustin Johnson recorded the first victory of the 2013 PGA Tour season when he won the weather-delayed Tournament of Champions in Hawaii.

The season-opening tournament, which was delayed by a full two days due to stormy weather on the Hawaiian island of Maui, saw the PGA Tour’s 2012 winners’ circle come together for a weekend of challenging golf against the magnificent backdrop of the Pacific Ocean at the Kapalua Resort, which provided a beautiful setting for the tournament despite major challenges from the weather gods.

Johnson led an all-American field during Tuesday’s final round, negotiating the challenging course with characteristic ease. Through the winding fairways and lengthy holes that favour a long hitter, Johnson was strong and accurate off the tee. The tricky greens which pose a very real threat to every player’s scorecard at the Plantation Course were easily negotiated by Johnson’s accurate short game, allowing him to finish four strokes ahead of fellow-American Steve Stricker. Brandt Snedeker, also of the United States, finished third.

With an overnight lead of three strokes, Johnson was a favourite to clinch the title at the start of Tuesday’s final round. As the American carded a five-under-par 68 for the final round, his only legitimate challenge came from Stricker, who cut the champion’s lead down to two strokes at the ninth hole when he made birdie against Johnson’s bogey. Stricker’s charge was short-lived however, as Johnson regained his composure to card an eagle and two birdies on the back nine on his way to winning his seventh PGA Tour event.

The European Tour kicks off its 2013 season next week in South Africa, with the co-sanctioned Volvo Champions event inaugurating the new season.

The LPGA and Ladies European Tour are still in recess and will commence later this month, as will the Champion’s Tour.

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