Dustin Johnson in rarefied air with milestone WGC-Mexico win

Dustin Johnson blew away the field at the WGC-Mexico Championship, winning by five shots for his milestone 20th career PGA Tour title.

If Dustin Johnson was aware of the elite company he was about to join on Sunday, he didn’t let it crack his usually stoic demeanor.

Johnson, 34, shot five-under 66 in the final round of the WGC-Mexico Championship to win his 20th career PGA Tour title. At 21-under for the tournament, he finished five ahead of runner-up Rory McIlroy and 10 shots clear of third place.

The win was a milestone for Johnson in several ways. He’s only the fifth player in the last 50 years to win 20 PGA Tour events before the age of 35, joining Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson, Johnny Miller and Tom Watson. He also passes Woods for most wins on tour since 2008, and his sixth World Golf Championship is second all-time to Woods’ 18. Johnson now as at least one win in all 12 years he’s been on the PGA Tour, the longest active streak.

When asked whether he’s ever stopped to think about where he stands in golf’s echelon, however, Johnson was quite clear in his denial. “No, I haven’t,” he said at his post-round press conference. “I still have a long way to go, hopefully. For me, it’s more just trying to win as many golf tournaments as I can.”

Johnson’s win total stands out among his contemporaries. Only five other players whose first victory has come since 2008, the year Johnson joined the PGA Tour, have reached double-digit wins. McIlroy leads that group with 14, six behind Johnson. Johnson is the first to 20, doing so in his 246th career start, and admits that number is something he set out to accomplish.

“Twenty is nice. I definitely wanted to get to that 20 number,” he said. “I would’ve liked to have done it a little bit quicker, but I’m pleased with where I’m at.”

Johnson had to overcome early stumbles on Sunday to get there. He began play in Mexico City with a four-shot lead over McIlroy, but failed to birdie any of the opening short par-fours then bogeyed the third hole. He looked poised to drop another shot at the fifth when his drive settled up against a tree but caught a lucky break when he was able to take relief from the cart path.

McIlroy, meanwhile, couldn’t take advantage as the final round struggles that have plagued him in the past year reared up again. He also found himself up against a tree on the par-five sixth, but this time he wasn’t able to get a drop. After his third shot found the water in front of the green, leading to a bogey, his chances of catching Johnson all but vanished. McIlroy has now played in the final group on Sunday eight times in the past year but has failed to win any of them.

Johnson finally found his form on the back-nine, making five birdies to separate himself from the field. If he was bothered by his early struggles, on the outside he put in an Oscar-worthy performance. On the inside, however, he says he was feeling the pressure early in the round and even on the closing holes despite having such a big lead. “Not too high though,” he said.

Johnson is known for his long drives, but all facets of his game were on display this week. He led the field in both greens in regulation and strokes gained: putting, only the fourth player in the last ten years to lead a tournament in both categories.

The win is Johnson’s second this month after winning the Saudi Invitational on the European Tour on Feb. 3, and second in three years in Mexico. It’s his first PGA Tour title, though, since the RBC Canadian Open last July, and extends his streak of winning every year he’s been on tour. That consistency is something he did take notice of and that he takes pride in.

“I’m definitely very proud of myself for that. It’s a big accomplishment,” he said. “It’s tough enough to get one win out here. To win every year I’ve been on tour is…something I work hard on and I want to do.”

Arnold Palmer and Jack Nicklaus have the longest streak in PGA Tour history at 17. As for how long Johnson thinks he can go?

“I want to keep it going as long as I can,” he said.