Dustin Johnson Wins AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am

Sports News - February 15th, 2010 - Written By Bryan

Dustin Johnson joined the likes of Tiger Woods as the only two players in history to make the move directly from college onto the PGA Tour, and win in each of their first three years. Johnson repeated as the champion of the AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am, claiming a one-shot victory.

He stood on the 18th hole of Pebble Beach needing a birdie on the par-5 to secure his first win in 2010.

"It's such a gorgeous hole," Johnson remarked. "If you miss it a little left, it's not so pretty."

After a near perfect drive down the right center of the fairway, Johnson launched a 3-iron in the front right green-side bunker. With plenty of green to work with, he executed a smooth shot that came to rest a mere three feet from the hole.

"All you can ask for is a chance to win on the last hole," Johnson said in a post-round interview.

The birdie gave him a 2-over par 74 in the final round. It was the highest closing round by a champion since Johnny Miller shot 74 in 1994. But it was enough.

Paired with Johnson on Sunday was Paul Goydos. Goydos held a one-shot lead through 13 holes of the final round. He suffered a devastating quadruple-bogey nine on the 14th hole. His chip shot from the just off the green, rolled over the backside. He followed that up by short-siding himself, failing to make the green once again. After making it to the putting surface, Goydos three-putted, effectively taking him out of contention.

"It wasn't like I didn't try on all nine shots," Goydos said after his round. "The ninth one I really wasn't all that excited about. Just everything I did on that hole didn't work out."

J.B Holmes and David Duval finished in the runner-up position, one shot behind Johnson.

Duval closed with a 3-under par 69. He was unable to convert a birdie at the last, as his wedge shot caught the wrong side of the green and ended 30 feet away.

"I feel like I did most of the things I wanted to do today," Duval said in an interview.

Duval has regrouped nicely early this year on tour. Following his second place finish at last year's U.S Open, he missed seven of the next eight cuts in tournaments he entered closing his 2009 campaign. The performance should give him confidence as the season continues.

Sunday belonged to Johnson however.

Last year, he was declared the winner after only 54 holes of the tournament was played. The players were unable to play the final round due to the weather. This time around, the win was not by way of phone call at breakfast on a Monday morning.

"Walking down that 18th hole with all the fans out there was just unbelievable, especially with the clear day," Johnson said in an interview. "It's one of the most beautiful holes in golf."

Entering the day, Johnson was the betting favorite to claim the victory according to the PGA Betting Lines at Bodog sportsbook.