Dominant DJ sweeps field aside at Canadian Open
What happened at the RBC Canadian Open?
What happens when Dustin Johnson misses his first cut of the season? Win on his very next start, of course!
It was a big surprise to see the world No.1 fail to make the weekend at Carnoustie, but his performance this week at the RBC Canadian Open reminded everyone why he is rightfully the best player on the planet.
Johnson shared the lead with the Korean duo Byeong-Hun An and Whee Kim heading into the final round, and he started assertively with birdies on each of the opening two holes to get his nose in front at Glen Abbey Golf Club.
The 34-year-old went on to birdie the 8th to go out in 32, and then made a further two birdies either side of a bogey at the 12th.
Kim and An were both playing nicely, but it was clear that they didn’t have the extra gear that Johnson possesses. At the 16th, after he drove into the left rough, Johnson gouged a pitching wedge from 180yards over the back of the green to set up another stress-free birdie on a par-5.
Speaking to Claude Harmon III in an interview after the third round, Johnson commented that he wanted to get to 25-under-par. At the time, that seemed like a pretty unrealistic aim, but after Johnson came up just two shots short of that total with a birdie at the 18th, it just shows how confident he is in his own ability.
And with it, this commanding performance secures Johnson’s 19th PGA Tour win, and his third of this season.
Elsewhere, Keegan Bradley had the round of the day with a closing bogey-free 64 to finish fourth, while Mexico’s Abraham Ancer rounded off the top-5.
Full RBC Canadian Open leaderboard
Talking point
Fresh off last week’s good showing at The Open, England’s Tommy Fleetwood continued his superb form by finishing tied for sixth this week in Ontario.
But that doesn’t tell the whole story…
It’s fair to say that Fleetwood enjoyed his time on the back-nine at Glen Abbey. He played the closing stretch of holes in an incredible 20-under-par this week.
Tale of two nines this week @RBCCanadianOpen for @TommyFleetwood1, playing the front nine 4-over and the back nine 20-under. #pgatour
— PGA TOUR Communications (@PGATOURComms) July 29, 2018
He’ll be ruing his performance on the front-nine, however. The world No. 11 played the opening nine holes in a combined four-over-par.
Perhaps even more noteworthy was Fleetwood’s performance in the opening round when he made three eagles, all coming on par-5s.
With an eagle on the par-5 13th on Sunday, Fleetwood ended the week with four eagles, which somehow wasn’t enough to win the eagle count.
That honour went to Keegan Bradley, who also had three eagles in a single round on Friday. After closing with a 64, Bradley made a total of five eagles across the four days.
Best quote
Johnson:
It means a lot. It’s the last time it’s going to be here at Glen Abbey. Definitely means a lot to win here. A lot of fans here thanks to Wayne [Gretzky, father-in-law].
Best moments
Staying aggressive until the very end.@DJohnsonPGA continues to dominate.#LiveUnderPar pic.twitter.com/TqOWmp76Hu
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) July 29, 2018
Just your average, 370-yard drive on the 18th hole. #QuickHits pic.twitter.com/PbNW2CBuO7
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) July 29, 2018
"That's not possible." ?@DJohnsonPGA just hit a pitching wedge 180 yards.
From the rough.#LiveUnderPar pic.twitter.com/jladTQcaJh
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) July 29, 2018
?-?-? finish for @Keegan_Bradley.
Round of the day.
19 under.
Clubhouse leader.#LiveUnderPar pic.twitter.com/eiYsC1uIgG— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) July 29, 2018
Another birdie and @meenwhee8493 get to -19 and one off the lead. #QuickHits pic.twitter.com/8IvvsHAZUR
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) July 29, 2018
Can anyone catch @DJohnsonPGA?
He's pushed the lead back to 3. #QuickHits pic.twitter.com/NREmaAzrvb
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) July 29, 2018
Back-to-back birdies for @Keegan_Bradley. #QuickHits pic.twitter.com/zljxPVGMSz
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) July 29, 2018
Just two back!
This one looked in the whole way from @ByeongHunAn. #QuickHits pic.twitter.com/ODWoO6YllM
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) July 29, 2018
Poetry in motion. ? pic.twitter.com/tmsOtbuuxP
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) July 29, 2018
THIS close to an ace for @ByeongHunAn! #QuickHits pic.twitter.com/SmupvR9XQ8
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) July 29, 2018
? @DJohnsonPGA is dialed in early.
This will be fun. #QuickHits pic.twitter.com/jhz7jtNE9I
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) July 29, 2018
What’s in DJ’s bag at the PGA Championship?
Final RBC Canadian Open leaderboard
There are few better ways to make a living but golf doesn’t half leave its mark mentally
Tom Irwin
Tom is a lifetime golfer, now over 30 years playing the game. 2023 marks 10 years in golf publishing and he is still holding down a + handicap at Alwoodley in Leeds. He has played over 600 golf courses, and has been a member of at least four including his first love Louth, in Lincolnshire. Tom likes unbranded clothing, natural fibres, and pencil bags. Seacroft in Lincolnshire is where it starts and ends.
