Johnson wins Bridgestone Invitational as Day falters

Johnson ran off three birdies on the back nine at Firestone and closed with a 4-under 66 to win the Bridgestone Invitational.

Henderson, 18, shot a 14-under 274 after a final-round 71 at Columbia Edgewater Country Club, pulling away from Stacy Lewis, who was 10 under after a 69.

Piercy, a three-time PGA Tour victor, took plenty of positives from his tie for second at the US Open at Oakmont two weeks ago.

Not Jordan Spieth who made a 12-foot putt on Sunday at the Bridgestone Invitational during his warmup though.

But his victory in his first start since winning the U.S. Open, has put golf on notice that his talent is ready to argue on his behalf, that any discussions about the best player in the world better include him. He continued to struggle off the tee at the tight Firestone lay-out, hitting only eight of 28 fairways in his final 36 holes.

“I’m definitely a little more relaxed out there on the golf course, especially coming down the stretch”, Johnson told reporters Sunday after his win. “I mean, that’s big”, Johnson said after his one-shot victory over Scott Piercy.

“I feel like my game is where it has been all year”, he said.

While he is disappointed not to have recorded his fourth win of the year, Day is looking at the positives ahead of The Open next week.

Day did not hit a green in regulation over his last six holes.

He tried to play it safe off the tee on the 655-yard hole and hooked a 3-wood into the trees. He then attempted to hit a punch fade from 200 yards that failed to skirt the pond fronting the 16th green, requiring a second penalty stroke that led to a double-bogey seven. It came up short and rode the collar of the bank into the water, leading to double bogey. “I feel if I get it into the fairway, I’m going to be tough to beat”. He isn’t the betting favorite – oddsmaker Jeff Sherman has Day at 7/1, Rory McIlroy at 8/1 and Spieth and Johnson at 9/1 – but bet against him at your risk.

Piercy birdied the last hole to shoot 70 and get to 5 under and grabbed another runner-up to Johnson.

“But 18 was pretty sweet”, Piercy said.

And there was one other connection to Woods they now are the only two players to win three of the four World Golf Championships.

Spieth closed with a 67 and tied for third with Matt Kuchar (66), Kevin Chappell (67) and Day. Bubba Watson is the only player of those eligible who has said for certain he will go to Rio.

Johnson started the final round at Firestone three shots off the pace but stormed home with a consecutive round of 66. He added another birdie at No. 17, giving him enough of a cushion that a bogey on the final hole didn’t matter. “I rolled the ball really well today”, he said. “I was blessed, I think, that guys found it tough just the same as I found it tough”.

“I feel like every part of my game is good; I’ve been driving it really well, feel like I’m wedging it good and I feel like I’m finally starting to roll some putts in”.

He made it sound so simple, even as the back nine became so complicated.