Dustin Johnson won for the first time since returning from a self-imposed six-month exile from the PGA Tour, shooting his second straight 3-under-par 69 to beat J.B. Holmes by one stroke in the WGC-Cadillac Championship on the TPC Blue Monster at Trump National Doral in Miami.
Johnson, who took his break to take care of personal issues, sank a 14-foot birdie putt on the 15th hole for what proved to be the winning shot, his fourth birdie of the final round against a single bogey on the seventh hole.
“This means everything to win today,” said DJ, who earned his ninth PGA Tour victory, including at least one in all seven of his seasons, the longest active streak on the circuit. “It feels awesome.
“I knew I was a really good player, but there was something missing to make me great. I have been working on that and everything in my life is good. I’m so excited. This is by far the best (victory).”
Holmes, who lost in a playoff to Jason Day in the Farmers Insurance Open earlier this year, led from the first round after opening with a 62, but made his only birdie on the 16th hole while closing with a 75.
Bubba Watson posted four birdies in the first eight holes and held a two-stroke lead before playing the back nine in 3-over 39 to wind up at 71 and finished two shots back in solo third.
Adam Scott of Australia, playing for the first time anywhere in the world in 2015 after the birth of his first child a few weeks ago, closed with a 71 and was five strokes back in a tie for fourth with Henrik Stenson of Sweden, who came in at 72.
Top-ranked Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland finished with a second straight 72 and tied for ninth, defending champion Patrick Reed shot 75 to tie for 23rd and Phil Mickleson closed with a 72 and tied for 31st.
