Johnson threatens to dominate golf majors

World No.1 Dustin Johnson has won the World Golf Championships event in Mexico City by one shot over Englishman Tommy Fleetwood.

World No.1 golfer Dustin Johnson

World No.1 Dustin Johnson has won the World Golf Championships event in Mexico City by one shot. (AAP)

Dustin Johnson has separated himself from Jason Day at the top of golf's world rankings and the big question now is whether he will dominate the 2017 majors.

Johnson gave every sign that will be the case as he triumphed in his first outing as No.1, winning the World Golf Championship event in Mexico City, backing up his previous start win at the US PGA Tour's Los Angeles tournament.

So well is the tall, long-hitting American playing from tee to green that he was able to miss 16 putts inside 10 feet at Club de Golf Chapultepec - the most during any US tour victory in the past 10 seasons - and still win by a shot from England's Tommy Fleetwood.

That was despite facing a field that included all of the world's best players except Day, who stayed away to overcome illness.

The 32-year-old Johnson ended Day's 47-week reign as world No.1 in LA and the Australian now has his work cut out to reclaim it any time soon with Johnson moving a clear two rankings points ahead.

The majors season is looming, starting with the Masters next month, and bookies have already installed Johnson as favourite at Augusta National.

That is little surprise as Sunday's victory was Johnson's fifth in his last 15 starts on the US tour, kicking off with his breakthrough US Open win and now including two World Golf Championships (WGC) titles.

With his fourth career WGC title, Johnson also moved to second on that all-time list behind only Tiger Woods's phenomenal tally of 18 since the concept was created in 1999.

Johnson fired a final round three-under-par 68 to finish at 14 under on Sunday while Fleetwood surged home with a 66.

Though he ranks in the top five on the US PGA Tour for driving distance and greens in regulation, Johnson admitted improving his form on the greens would be key to dominating his peers in 2017.

"It's frustrating, but I know I've got to stay patient," said Johnson of his many missed makeable putts in Mexico.

"Eventually I'm going to make (more); I'm going to continue to have chances because feel like I'm controlling my ball very well.

"If I can keep driving it straight, I'm going to play well every week."


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Source: AAP



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