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Golf Roundup: Johnson repeats at Pebble Beach
Birdie from bunker on famous 18th hole seals 1-shot victory
Monday, February 15, 2010

Dustin Johnson had to work a lot longer -- and harder -- for another victory at Pebble Beach in California.

With a birdie from the bunker on the 18th hole Sunday, Johnson became the first player in 20 years to win back-to-back Pebble Beach National Pro-Am titles, closing with a 2-over 74 for a one-shot victory over David Duval (69) and J.B. Holmes (71). It certainly wasn't as easy as last year, when Johnson was declared the winner after 54 holes because of rain.

Johnson posted the highest final round by a Pebble champion since Johnny Miller closed with a 74 in 1994. But when he stepped onto the tee at the famous par-5 18th that runs along the Pacific Ocean, he knew a birdie would make up for everything.

Johnson finished at 16-under 270. He is only the fifth player to win back-to-back at Pebble Beach, and the first since Mark O'Meara in 1990. Johnson moved to No. 2 in the Ryder Cup standings, and joins Sean O'Hair as the only Americans in their 20s with three wins. Johnson, 25, is the first player since Tiger Woods to come out of college and win in each of his first three years on Tour.

Other tournaments

• ACE Group Classic: Fred Couples earned his first Champions Tour victory, overcoming a record-tying round by Tommy Armour III to win in Naples, Fla. Couples, who had a five-shot lead at one point, had to make a 5-foot birdie putt on No. 17 and a tap-in par on the final hole for his first victory since the 2003 Shell Houston Open. Armour tied the tour record for lowest score in relation to par with an 11-under 61 but finished one back of Couples, who shot an 8-under 64 to finish at 17-under 199.

• Avantha Masters: Australia's Andrew Dodt shot a final-round 68 to hold off Englishman Richard Finch by a stroke and win in Gurgaon, India. Seven players began the final round tied for the lead, but it was Finch who made the charge, shooting a 6-under 66. Dodt answered with birdies at Nos. 16 and 18 to get to 14 under, good enough for his first European Tour victory.

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First published on February 15, 2010 at 12:00 am