Austin, TX …
World No. 1 Dustin Johnson remained on target to achieve something Tiger Woods has failed to manage and that is to win all four WGC titles.
This is after Johnson battled hard to overcome Hideto Tanihara 1-up in Sunday morning’s (US time) semi-final and book his place in the final against Spaniard Jon Rahm at the WGC – Dell Match-Play Championship in Austin, Texas.
However, the 38-year Tanihara, who has won 13 times in his native Japan between 2003 and last year, was clearly not overawed in Johnson’s company nor intimidated by a very parochial home crowd.
Dustin Johnson leads the way in the semi final of the Dell Match Play. (Photo – European Tour/Getty)
In fact, after Johnson had birdied the first, twice the World No. 60 ranked Tanihara fought to get back to all-square before the American finally holed a six=-foot birdie on 17 to go ahead 1-up.
Johnson’s second shot at the last rolled off the green but he chipped his third to eight-feet and watched as his opponent missed his birdie putt for both to par the hole and give Johnson his sixth victory in the $US 9.75m event.
It had also been the first occasion in his six matches Johnson had played the 17th and 18th holes on the Austin Country Club course.
“It was a tough match and while I hit a lot of great putts on the back nine I just hit the hole on 10, 11, 14, 15 and 16 but finally made two putts on 17 and 18,” he said.
“Man, it was a tough one.
“It’s the first time I’ve seen 17 and 18 all week but then I needed a tough match, because I know the final is going to be a tough one. Me and Jon both are playing really well.”
Woods won three of the four WGC titles 18 times but never the WGC – HSBC Champions in Shanghai and if Johnson wins in Texas he will be the only player to win the four.
Rahm, and the first Spaniard to reach the final in the history of the event, closed out his match with three birdies over his last four holes to win 3 & 2 from American Bill Haas.
And Rahm is ready to take it right to Johnson after being paired with ‘DJ’ over the second round of the recent WGC – Mexico Championship but with Johnson posting 66 to then go and with the title while Rahm, who posted a day two 70, shared fourth place just two strokes adrift of the victorious Johnson.
“Honestly, it’s great being able to play DJ and ever since Mexico I’ve been wanting a rematch,” said Rahm.
“It’s going to be a great match because of how great a player he is.”
