PGA: Johnson closes strong to win Bridgestone

Two weeks after coming from behind to win the U.S. Open, Dustin Johnson did it again in another big event.
Johnson closed with a 4-under-par 66 to edge Scott Piercy by one shot and win the World Golf Championships-Bridgestone Classic on Sunday in Akron, Ohio. Johnson completed the tournament in 6-under 274 at Firestone Country Club.
Piercy, the co-leader after the third round, finished with an even-par 70 for a 275. He tied for second behind Johnson in the U.S. Open at Oakmont (Pa.) Country Club.
The other third-round co-leader, top-ranked Jason Day of Australia, stumbled down the stretch Sunday and fell into a tie for third place at 277 after a 72. He ended his day, in order, with a bogey, a double bogey, a par and a bogey.
Jordan Spieth (final round 67), Matt Kuchar (66) and Kevin Chappell (67) also wound up at 277.
Johnson earned his 11th career PGA Tour win and second of the year - both in his past two events. On Sunday, he was three shots back before making consecutive birdies on No. 13 and No. 14. He added another birdie at No. 17, giving him enough of a cushion that a bogey on the final hole didn’t matter.
“The putt on 17 going in was nice,” Johnson said. “I knew then that I definitely had a chance. I mean, I felt like I had a chance when I birdied 13 and 14. I knew then I’ve probably got a good chance. I needed to finish with some good scores. But I knew I had a chance then.”
Johnson’s past four victories have come against elite fields: the WGC-HSBC Champions in 2013, the WGC Cadillac Championship in 2015 and then the U.S. Open and Bridgestone Classic in recent weeks.
“I feel like my game is where it has been all year,” he said. “I felt like I’ve been playing really solid all year. I’ve been driving it great and wedging it good, I just haven’t been putting as well as I’d like to. But the last couple of weeks I’ve just putted a little bit better.”
Day, meanwhile, lamented his lost opportunity.
“To be honest, I played pretty good golf up until 16,” he said. “I really had two bad holes. I mean, I had a couple bogeys, but really kind of one hole that derailed me, which was 16. … It’s obviously disappointing to not get the win here, but I feel like it’s coming around nicely. I’m playing some pretty good golf.”
Tied for seventh were William McGirt (70), Charl Schwartzel (70) and David Lingmerth (72). Zach Johnson (65), Rickie Fowler (67), Adam Scott (67) and Branden Grace (68) shared 10th place.