WGC-Bridgestone Invitational:
World No. 3 Dustin Johnson fashioned a 4-under-par 33-33=66 in the final round of the World Golf Championships-Bridgestone Invitational to conclude his seventh appearance on 6-under 274, good for one-shot win over overnight co-leader Scott Piercy.
The 32-year-old arrived off his first major championship win, coming from four back in the final round to win the U.S. Open. This week, he began the finale three adrift of Piercy and Jason Day, erasing the deficit with six birdies against two bogeys. It’s his third WGC title, joining the 2014 HSBC Champions and the 2015 Cadillac Championship.
Playing out of the third-to-last twosome, Johnson bogeyed the third and the 18th, but camouflaged them with birdies at Nos. 2, 5, 6, 13, 14 and 17, capping with a 16-footer at the par-4 17th. This is his 11th PGA TOUR title in his 194th career start, and brushes aside a previous best of 15th in the 2010 edition. After opening in 69-73 to sit T22 thru 36 holes, he played the weekend in twin 66s.
This was the 18th playing of the Bridgestone Invitational with 17 of them being contested at the 7,400-yard Firestone Country Club. The par-70 layout played over-par in all four rounds with a cumulative scoring average of 71.748.
This is Johnson’s TOUR-leading 10th top 10 of the season in 15 starts, breaking a tie with Patrick Reed who finished 52nd on 14-over 294. Even more impressively, it’s his fourth straight and NINTH overall top-5 finish.
With the triumph, Johnson becomes the season’s fourth multiple winner, joining Day (3), and Jordan Spieth and Adam Scott with two each. Playing his ninth season, it’s the second time in his career that he’s won more than once in a season after winning the AT&T Pebble Beach and the BMW Championship in 2010.
It’s his third career World Golf Championships title joining Tiger Woods (18) and Geoff Ogilvy (3) as the only players with three or more victories in WGC events. Johnson has won all three of his in come-from-behind fashion.
The South Carolina native and resident had already earned a five-year exemption on TOUR, a five-year exemption into the Masters, Open Championship, PGA Championship and THE PLAYERS with his win at the U.S. Open.
He bumps one spot to a career-best 2nd in the Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR), supplanting Spieth, who finished in a four-way T3 on 3-under 277 (68-71-71-67).
After collecting 600 FedExCup (FEC) points for the U.S. Open victory, the Coastal Carolina University product adds 550 for the WGC win, overtaking Day for the FEC lead with 2,411 points, 104 points ahead of Day.
Winner’s Weekly Stats (ranking of 58 players):
Birdies: 16 (1st)
Bogeys: 10 (T5)
Par-3 Scoring: 2.88 (T3)
Par-4 Scoring: 3.94 (T1)
Par-5 Scoring: 4.88 (T21)
Driving Distance: 341.1 yards (2nd)
Driving Accuracy: 32/56 (T17) at 57.14 percent
Greens in Regulation: 45/72 (T5) at 62.50 percent
Proximity to Hole: 27’11” (1st)
Putts per GIR: 1.644 (2nd)
Total Putts: 110 (T10); by round: 28-28-26-28
Scrambling: 17/27 (T19) at 62.96 percent
SG: Off-the-Tee: 6.047 (1st)
SG: Approach-to-the-Green: 2.417 (16th)
SG: Around-the-Green: -0.061 (27th)
SG: Tee-to-Green: 8.405 (3rd)
SG: Putting: 3.254 (8th)
Golf Channel Perfect Picks ($3,320,583):
Group 1: Dustin Johnson (Won): $1,620,000
Group 2: Matt Kuchar (T3): $449,250
Group 3: Scott Piercy (2nd): $1,018,000
Group 4: William McGirt, David Lingmerth (T7): $233,333
Draw: N/A
Yahoo! Low Rounds:
R1: William McGirt (64)
R2: David Lingmerth (67)
R3: Dustin Johnson (66)
R4: Zach Johnson (65)
Bogey-free Rounds:
R1: William McGirt (64)
R2: NONE
R3: NONE
R4: Matt Kuchar (66); Phil Mickelson (68)
The Runner-up:
Scott Piercy: The overnight co-leader pieced together an even-par 35-35=70 in the final round to finish off his third appearance on 5-under 275, down one place to solo second, one in arrears to the champion.
Piercy finished (co-) runner-up to Johnson in his last start at the U.S. Open and once again finds himself second fiddle. He co-led with World No. 1 Day on 5-under after opening in 69-69-70, three clear of Johnson who was T5 on 2-under.
The 37-year-old mustered a week-low five (of 14) fairways and a tied-week-low 10 greens in regulation, posting negative numbers in each strokes gained category with the exception of a 1.379 in SG: Putting. He cancelled out birdies at Nos. 8, 10, 14 and 18 with bogeys on holes 9, 12, 13 and 15.
The Las Vegas native and resident settles for a personal best at Firestone in his third appearance, supplanting T19 on debut in 2012, notches his third runner-up in his 209th career start (second straight), and tied his best finish in a WGC event, joining T2 at the 2012 HSBC. He bumps 16 places to No. 22 in the FEC standings and jumps 18 spots to a career-best 25th in OWGR.
For the week, the San Diego State alum totaled one eagle and 13 birdies against 10 bogeys. He was No. 1 in SG: Tee-to-Green at 9.079 despite a -0.965 in R4.
This was the fifth time that Piercy had held or shared the 54-hole lead on TOUR. He had converted his last two into wins at the 2015 Barbasol Championship and the 2011 Reno-Tahoe Open, both opposite-field events.
What We Learned:
The pre-tourney odds-favorites have won just TWICE this season thru 35 events and Spieth has both of them, winning the DEAN & DELUCA and the Hyundai TOC.
World No. 1 Day was the pre-tourney fave this week at 11/2 and finished in a four-way T3 on 3-under 277.
He led outright thru 36 holes (by one) after opening his seventh appearance in 67-69, and co-led with Piercy after 54 holes following a third-round 69.
The Aussie wrapped in a disappointing 2-over-par 34-38=72, uncharacteristically losing four strokes over his final four holes.
He had gained a one-shot lead over Piercy at the turn, outpacing bogey-5 at the ninth with a chip-in eagle at the par-5 second, and appeared to be well on the way to his fourth TOUR title of the season after dropping a 6’9” birdie at the par-4 10th and saving par from 14’8” away from the intermediate rough at the par-4 13th.
But, Day struggled with his tee-to-green accuracy throughout the weekend, particularly off-the-tee, where he mustered just FIVE (of 28) fairways. It caught up with him on Sunday.
There were other instances of impending doom as well, hitting just 10 greens in regulation, but Day hung in there gaining 3.014 SG: Around-the-Green. However, the TOUR-leader in SG: Putting swallowed a -0.963 in SGP in the finale.
He bobbled with a bogey-4 at the 15th, missing a par-saver from 4’7”, and then the wheels came off with a one-putt double bogey-7 at the 16th. Day hit his tee shot wide-left and under a tree; skulled his second across the fairway into the trees, and then inexplicably went for the green from 200 yards away in the right rough, coming up woefully short and in the water. He scrambled for par on the 17th after missing another fairway and another green, and then missed the fairway and the green on the 18th, and missed a 13’10” par save that would’ve given him solo third.
Day drops to 3-for-11 when the 36-hole leader/co-leader, having won his last three prior at the 2016 PLAYERS, the 2016 Arnold Palmer, and the 2015 BMW Championship.
This was the 13th time in 184 career starts that he’s held or shared the 54-hole lead, converting six times, including his last five straight. That streak ended unceremoniously on Sunday as well.
It is his best finish at the WGC-Bridgestone, supplanting T4 in 2011, but he was chasing his third WGC title, joining the 2014 and 2016 WGC-Dell Match Play, and would’ve have become just the second player to win back-to-back WGC titles (Tiger Woods, 2013).
There were 16 first-timers in field of 61, and TWO (of 17) TOUR rookies.
Kevin Chappell: The 29-year-old, who celebrates his birthday on July 8th, was the top debutant with a four-way T3 on 3-under 277 (71-70-69-67).
Chappell was also making his World Golf Championships debut. He began the finale on even-par (T10), five back of co-leaders Piercy and Day. The UCLA product made some serious noise early, going out in bogey-free 5-under 30, including three par-savers from between six and 20 feet, but stalled out after the break, coming home in 2-over 37.
The California native and resident was one of two TOUR members in the field without a TOUR victory (Anirban Lahiri) and departs with his sixth top 10 of the season (20 starts) and fourth podium. All six of Chappell’s top 25s this season double as top 10s. He climbs four places in the FEC standings to 6th.
Emiliano Grillo: The 23-year-old was the top rookie with a two-way T14 on 1-over 281 (67-71-71-72). He began the final frame in a two-way T8 on 1-under and carded a 2-over 35-37=72 to drop six places on the leaderboard.
The Bradenton, Florida, resident departs with his sixth top 25 of the season in 18 starts. He nudges one spot to 30th in the FEC standings. The Argentine played in all four WGC events this season and this was his best showing, and first finish inside the top 30.
HOT:
Matt Kuchar: This week’s shout out goes to the 38-year-old who finished T3 on 3-under 277 (69-72-70-66). His bogey-free 66 in the finale was just the THIRD blemish-free lap of the week and rode that to a personal best at Firestone in his eighth appearance, previously T8 in 2012. Kuchar posts his eighth top 10 of the season (18 events), including five in his last six starts. He also matched a season best (T3, THE PLAYERS; 3rd, AT&T Byron Nelson).
Barracuda Championship:
Overnight leader and World No. 490 Greg Chalmers patched together a 1-over-par 37-36=73 in the final round of the Barracuda Championship to collect 4 points and post 43 points total, good for a six-point win over runner-up and 2013 Barracuda champion Gary Woodland, and his first PGA TOUR title in his 386th career start.
The 42-year-old, a pre-tourney 300/1 outright, had the dubious distinction of leading all active players with the most starts on TOUR without a win. His previous best was T2 two times, most recently at the 2009 Buick Open.
This was the Aussie’s 12th appearance at the Barracuda and first finish inside the top 30. His previous best was T35 in 2002.
Playing this season on conditional status, Chalmers entered the week with just six starts. His only cash was a T58 at the no-cut HSBC. The last time Chalmers made a cut on TOUR was at the regular-season-ending Wyndham Championship last August, where he tied for 51st-place and finished 137th in the FEC standings, missing the Playoffs for a second consecutive season.
With the win, the Colleyville, Texas, resident earns a two-year exemption on TOUR and also claims a spot in The Open Championship at Royal Troon, where he’ll be making his fourth appearance. He’s 3-for-3 in the championship with a best of T45 in 2012 at Royal Lytham. Chalmers also secures invites to the 2016 PGA Championship and the 2017 Hyundai Tournament of Champions.
Utilizing the Modified Stableford scoring system for the fifth straight time in its 17-year history, Chalmers posted rounds of 14 points, 10, 15 and 4 points, respectively. He led by two points after 36 holes and by six after 54, the latter his first-ever 54-hole lead on TOUR. Understandably, it was a struggle in the finale, squaring five bogeys against two birdies, but culminated his win, and first top 10 since T10 at the 2013-14 McGladrey, with an 8'7" eagle putt on the 72nd hole.
With the win, Chalmers collects 300 FEC points and vaults from 229th in the FEC standings to 137th. He also leaps 259 spots to No. 231 in OWGR.
For the week, the Aussie ranked 70th (of 71 players that made the 54-hole cut) in SG: Approach-to-the-Green with a -4.646, but was 10th in SG: Around-the-Green (3.636), FIRST in SG: Putting (10.500), and FIRST in putts per GIR at 1.533.
Winner’s Weekly Stats (ranking of 71 players):
Eagle: 2 (T2)
Birdies: 22 (T2)
Bogeys: 11 (T42)
Driving Distance: 296.9 yards (64th)
Driving Accuracy: 45/56 (T25) at 80.36 percent
Greens in Regulation: 47/72 (T20) at 65.28 percent
Putts per GIR: 1.553 (1st)
SG: Off-the-Tee: 3.888 (6th)
SG: Approach-to-the-Green: -4.646 (70th)
SG: Around-the-Green: 3.636 (10th)
SG: Tee-to-Green: 2.877 (T27)
SG: Putting: 10.500 (1st)
Runner-up:
Gary Woodland: The 32-year-old was the highest-ranked player the field at No. 65 in OWGR. He was making just his second appearance after winning the 2013 edition by nine points on 44 points total, the last of his two TOUR wins.
The Kansas alum began the finale in a two-way T2 with 33 points, six points shy of Chalmers. Playing out of the penultimate twosome, he collected just four additional points with three birdies against two bogeys.
Woodland striped 13 (of 14) fairways and hit 14 greens in regulation, but suffered through a -2.447 in SG: Putting. He exchanged bogey-6 at the eighth with birdie at the par-4 ninth to turn with +1 point, trailing Chalmers by five, who reached the break with zero points on his lap.
Woodland knocked home a 15-footer for birdie-4 at the 13th, and then drove the green at the par-4 14th, leaving just a 5’1” putt for eagle and 5 points. He whiffed, settling for a two-putt birdie.
Woodland stuffed his approach on the par-4 15th to 43 inches and missed again. He then had a 12’5” try for a closing birdie and 3-putted for his second bogey-6 of the round.
Woodland settles for his second top 10 of the season in 18 starts (T4, Memorial) and his SIXTH runner-up finish in 166 career events.
For the week, he ranked 1st in SG: Off-the-Tee (6.276), 1st in SG: Tee-to-Green (13.388), 1st in Driving Accuracy at 91.07 percent (51/56), but 52nd in SG: Putting (-1.011).
Highest Point Total (by round):
R1: Martin Laird: 15 points (7-under 65)
R2: Jason Gore: 14 points (65)
R3: Ben Martin: 16 points (64)
R4: Cameron Percy: 14 points (66)
Bogey-free Rounds:
R1: Camilo Villegas (65); Rod Pampling (67); Brice Garnett (69); Cameron Tringale (70); John Senden (70)
R2: Jason Gore (65); Will MacKenzie (67); Lee McCoy (68); Brendan Steele (68); Andrew Landry (69)
R3: Ben Martin (64); Troy Matteson (66); Spencer Levin (70)
R4: Open Qualifier Joey Garber (66)
Up Next:
The TOUR takes an unscheduled week off as The Greenbrier Classic was cancelled due to historic flooding in West Virginia and related course damage. The TOUR returns July 14 – 17th and plays two events again with the 145th Open Championship at Royal Troon taking center stage.
Zach Johnson is the reigning Champion Golf of the Year, outlasting Louis Oosthuizen and Marc Leishman in a 4-hole aggregate playoff at the Old Course at St. Andrews. The final round was played on Monday with the trio matching 72-hole aggregates of 15-under 273. It was just the second Monday finish in Open Championship history.
The last time the Open was contested at Royal Troon was in 2004, where Todd Hamilton defeated Ernie Els in a playoff after the duo matched aggregates of 10-under 274.
The opposite-field event is the Barbasol Championship at the RTJ Trail (Grand National) in Opelika, Alabama. Scott Piercy is the defending champion after winning last year’s inaugural edition on 19-under 265, three shots clear of runner-up Will Wilcox. Piercy will not be returning to defend as he’s qualified for The Open.
Stay tuned to this space for all the latest player news and opinions as the TOUR readies for its 36th and 37th tournaments of the season.
