Johnson wins windswept USPGA season-opener

Updated January 09, 2013 11:12:15

It required a lot patience and overtime but American Dustin Johnson opened the PGA Tour season with a comfortable victory at the windswept Tournament of Champions in Hawaii on Wednesday (AEDT).

Johnson fired a five-under 68 on another blustery day at the Kapalua Resort to finish four shots clear of defending champion Steve Stricker (69).

With the win, Johnson becomes the first player since Tiger Woods to win at least one tournament in six consecutive years straight out of college.

Johnson posted a 16-under 203 total at the weather-hit event that was trimmed to three rounds and forced to a rare Tuesday finish because of relentless howling winds that did not allow the first round to be played until Monday.

Stricker got to within a shot of his US Ryder Cup team mate with five holes to play but could not keep up the rally as Johnson went on to collect his seventh career win.

American Brandt Snedeker, last season's FedExCup champion, had a solid start to his 2013 campaign, also closing with a 69, to finish alone in third, six shots back of Johnson.

Masters champion Bubba Watson (71) was a further shot back in a tie for fourth with fellow American Keegan Bradley (70).

Reuters

Tags: sport, golf, united-states

First posted January 09, 2013 10:25:17

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Four Aussies accept Masters invite

Updated January 12, 2013 15:24:18

Four Australians were amongst 85 golfers to accept invitations to compete in the 2013 US Masters, the first major of the season.

Billy Payne, chairman of Augusta National Golf Club and the Masters, said the field for the April 11-14 tournament so far featured golfers from from 21 countries - including young Japanese star Ryo Ishikawa and Thai veteran Thaworn Wiratchant, 16 first-time participants and six amateurs.

The Aussies in the field are Jason Day, Marc Leishman, Adam Scott and John Senden.

In 2011, Day and Scott came close to becoming the first Australian golfer to win the Masters, when they finished joint second two shots behind winner Charl Schwartzel of South Africa.

"Through our established qualifications, and invitations to selected international players not otherwise qualified, we historically bring together a collection of the world's top players, and this year is no different," Payne said.

"The Masters has long established a tradition of supporting the global game, and we were excited to extend invitations to Thaworn Wiratchant and Ryo Ishikawa, who we hope will provide added interest and enthusiasm for golf in Asia through their participation in the tournament."

Wiratchant, 46, won the 2012 Asian Tour Order of Merit.

He will be making his first Masters appearance when he competes at Augusta National in April.

He holds the Asian Tour record for most career victories, having won for the 15th time at the India Open last October, a co-sanctioned European PGA Tour event.

The 21-year-old Ishikawa will be making his fifth straight start at the Masters with his best finish coming in 2011 when he tied for 20th.

In his final five starts of 2012, he closed out the season on the Japan Golf Tour by collecting his 10th career win and recording three additional top-10 finishes.

Golfers have two more chances to qualify for the 2013 Masters by winning a PGA Tour event that awards a full-point allocation for the season-ending Tour Championship or by climbing into the top 50 of the world golf rankings published during the week prior to the Masters.

AAP/ABC

Tags: sport, golf, united-states, australia

First posted January 12, 2013 15:14:32

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