World No.1 Johnson wins again at Saudi International

February 8th, 2021 / Bernie McGuire

World No. 1 Dustin Johnson made it two wins from three starts with his two-shot success at the Saudi International.

Despite a very average putting display, Johnson held on to capture his ninth European Tour title and a 28th career success in posting a final day 67 for a 15-under par on the course laid out along the Red Sea shoreline.

Only two Americans – Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson – have more European Tour wins to their names with Woods sitting on 41 and Mickelson on 10.

In three Saudi showings Johnson has now won twice and finished runner-up for an impressive 44-under-par total across his 216-holes on the Royal Greens course.

And in Johnson’s 85 European Tour counting events, he has made the cut on 77 occasions, won nine times and finished runner-up seven times with 19 top-10s.

Dustin Johnson Dustin Johnson (Credit: European Tour)

“It’s very important for me to win here again…as I don’t get to play around the world as much as I like to,” he said.

“I don’t get to play around the world as much as I’d like to…it’s definitely nice to get a win not on my tour. After Augusta, to get my first win again, obviously the game’s still in really good form and I’m really excited about the rest of the year.”

Despite Johnson’s success in European Tour counting events he will not be tempted, well not yet, to become a member of the European Tour.

“They try. I’d have to play too many events I think. I don’t like to play that many,” he said.

“I have a schedule — I mean, I like to play around 20 and not have to add three or four or five more. So I don’t know if that would work. But I’ve definitely thought about it.”

“I know guys like Patrick Reed, Tony (Finau) and others were members last year and if I did join I would be right up there on the Race to Dubai and doing well. But like I said, it’s all based on the schedule.”

“If it works out and I can, then obviously I will. But that’s quite a few more events that I’ve got to play”.

Justin Rose (65) and Tony Finau (67) shared second place with Finau bumping Hill out of third in almost holing a final hole bunker shot for an eventual tap-in eagle.

It is Finau’s ninth second place finish since his only PGA Tour win five years ago next month.

New Zealand’s Ryan Fox secured his best European Tour finish outside of Australia since also finishing equal 6th at the Saudi International in 2019. His cheque today for almost €80,000 takes him past the €4,000,000 career mark in Europe.

Despite Dustin Johnson seemingly flying under the radar most of the time, looking below at the Tiger-like list of accomplishments over the past several months shows exactly why the 36-year-old sits comfortably at World No.1.

Johnson now has the most wins worldwide since 2013 with 19 titles followed by Rory McIlroy with 17 and Jordan Spieth at 14.

Dustin Johnson’s Recent Run (Feb 2021 – Aug 2020)

  • WIN – Saudi International
  • 11th – Sentury Tournament of Champions
  • WIN – The Masters
  • 2nd – Houston Open
  • 6th – US Open
  • WIN – Tour Championship
  • 2nd – BMW Championship
  • WIN – Northern Trust
  • T2 – PGA Championship

While Johnson lapped up the Saudi layout the Aussies had a week they would rather forget with Wade Ormsby the only player to make the cut in 63rd place.

Scott Hend, Lucas Herbert, Min Woo Lee and Jason Scrivener all missed the weekend.

With the European Tour heading to the US for the first WGC event of the year starting February 25th, the next tournament on the European Tour will be the Qatar Masters from March 11th.