Dustin Johnson Wins Saudi International

The World Number Three was victorious at the inaugural Saudi International

Dustin Johnson Wins Saudi International
(Image credit: RK)

The World Number Three was victorious at the inaugural Saudi International

Dustin Johnson Wins Saudi International

Dustin Johnson won his 21st professional title at the inaugural Saudi International.

The World Number Three shot a closing 67 to beat Haotong Li by two at Royal Greens Golf and Country Club.

Playing with Haotong Li, DJ found himself two behind with nine to play after Li chipped in for birdie.

However, the 23-year-old made three bogeys on his closing nine to lose the lead.

Johnson birdied the par-5 18th, which he hit with a drive and an 8 iron, to reach 19 under par and win by two.

The week also featured Johnson's lowest ever career round, a 61, on the second day.

"It feels really good," DJ said after his win.

"Any time you can win a professional golf tournament, no matter where it is in the world, it's a big win.

"I'm honoured to be the champion and I'm very pleased with the win.

"The things that I've been working on are working and I've still got a lot of room for improvement. I'm very pleased with where the game is at.

"I've got a lot of confidence in what I'm doing and I feel like I'm hitting a lot of really good golf shots. So misses are starting to get better and I'm not making as many mistakes, even though I did on 16.

"But for the most part, that was about the only really bad shot I hit this week.

"So I'm pleased with where the game's at, and to get a win here, it's a big win, gives me a lot of confidence going for the rest of the year."

The Saudi International was a controversial tournament on the European Tour and Sergio Garcia's disqualification in round three was probably the story of the week.

The 2017 Masters champion was DQ'd for 'serious misconduct' after apparently damaging a number of greens, leading to players complaining to tournament officials.

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Saudi International Leaderboard

1 Dustin Johnson -19

2 Haotong Li -17

3 Tom Lewis -16

4 Min Woo Lee -15

5 Alexander Levy -14

6 Joost Luiten -11

6 Bryson DeChambeau -11

6 Ian Poulter -11

6 Scott Hend -11

6 Ryan Fox -11

11 Justin Harding -10

11 Gavin Green -10

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Elliott Heath
News Editor

Elliott Heath is our News Editor and has been with Golf Monthly since early 2016 after graduating with a degree in Sports Journalism. He manages the Golf Monthly news team as well as our large Facebook, Twitter and Instagram pages. He covered the 2022 Masters from Augusta National as well as five Open Championships on-site including the 150th at St Andrews. His first Open was in 2017 at Royal Birkdale, when he walked inside the ropes with Jordan Spieth during the Texan's memorable Claret Jug triumph. He has played 35 of our Top 100 golf courses, with his favourites being both Sunningdales, Woodhall Spa, Western Gailes, Old Head and Turnberry. He has been obsessed with the sport since the age of 8 and currently plays off of a six handicap. His golfing highlights are making albatross on the 9th hole on the Hotchkin Course at Woodhall Spa, shooting an under-par round, playing in the Aramco Team Series on the Ladies European Tour and making his one and only hole-in-one at the age of 15 - a long time ago now!

Elliott is currently playing:

Driver: Titleist TSR4

3 wood: Titleist TSi2

Hybrids: Titleist 816 H1

Irons: Mizuno MP5 5-PW

Wedges: Cleveland RTX ZipCore 50, 54, 58

Putter: Odyssey White Hot OG #5

Ball: Srixon Z Star XV