Johnson crowned WGC-HSBC champion

November 4, 2013. It only took four holes over two days for Dustin Johnson to lose a six-shot lead in the HSBC Champions. All that mattered was the high-powered kick down the stretch Sunday at Sheshan International that brought him the biggest win of his career.

In what felt like the end of a long year and beginning of a new season, Johnson broke loose from a three-way battle on the back nine by playing a five-hole stretch in 5-under par. He closed with a 6-under 66 for a three-shot win over Ian Poulter to capture his first World Golf Championship title.

“It’s the biggest win I’ve had in my career so far,” he said. “Those guys put a lot of pressure on me. I’m really proud of the way I handled myself.”

For most of the back nine, the top seven players on the leaderboards consisted of Johnson and half of Europe’s winning Ryder Cup team from Medinah.

Poulter and Graeme McDowell, who each had a share of the lead at some point, looked capable of winning until Johnson’s late heroics. Right behind them were Sergio Garcia, Justin Rose, Rory McIlroy and Martin Kaymer, all firing away with birdies on a soft course but unable to catch up.

Poulter and McDowell each closed with a 66, the same score as Johnson.

“The first five holes were not fun,” Johnson said. “I wasn’t having too much fun at the start, especially when Graeme and Ian were birdieing every hole, it seemed like. But I knew I just needed to keep playing my game.”

Garcia closed with a 63 to finish fourth, followed by Rose (68). McIlroy and Graham DeLaet each shot 69 to tie for sixth.

India’s sole representative  Gaganjeet Bhullar could not keep up  to his round one score and tumbled down to 63rd place at the finish of the game. With a score of 289 (69-71-75-74), he ended his challenge on a disappointing note.

It was the second straight PGA Tour season that Johnson won the first tournament he played – even though it was in the same year. His last win was the Tournament of Championship at Kapalua in January. This is the first time the tour has gone to a wraparound season, which began a month ago.

Johnson now has won in each of his first seven seasons on the PGA Tour, the most by any player since Woods in his first 14 seasons through 2009. The next step is to win a major, and he already has had plenty of chances in those.

“You know what?” Johnson said. “If I play like I did this week, I’m going to win one, for sure.”