Tuesday 29 August 2017 17:33, UK
Andrew Coltart reflects on a dramatic win for Dustin Johnson at The Northern Trust and discusses what to expect from the world No 1 over the rest of the FedExCup play-offs.
These FedExCup events bring the top players together and produce some really exciting golf, which was clear to see in Sunday's final-round tussle.
It was a titanic battle between two world-class players and you really didn't know which way it was going to go. It wasn't always the quality of the golf, but the two were toing and froing throughout.
This stroke play event became like a match play situation between Johnson and Jordan Spieth, with the contest offering twists and turns and a string of clutch putts.
I thought Jordan Spieth was going to stay out in front as we headed down the closing holes, but it was quality stuff to see the two guys fight it out in the way they did.
Nothing was happening for Johnson over the first few holes and it was only when Spieth hit it in the water at the sixth that things started to change. Did Spieth need to go aggressively when five ahead? I'm not sure.
That mental error would ultimately prove costly, although the way Spieth responded over the rest of his round was brilliant to see. The quality of touch he possessed with his putt at the 17th, and how close he came at the last, really piled the pressure on Johnson.
Whatever Spieth did though, Johnson was following suit. He's a big man and renowned for his incredible distance and power off the tee, but his finesse around the greens is so delicate under pressure.
The fact Johnson knew he could lay up at the 18th and could get close with a wedge says everything about the world No 1 at the moment. He possesses everything that you would expect from a world No 1.
The whole crowd would've expected Johnson to have a crack at the 72nd with his second shot, but to be able to leave with a par and force the play-off shows how dogged and determined he is.
DJ hung in there and played a wonderful back nine, with the patience he possesses a great asset to have. He goes about his business like he doesn't have a care in the world.
The confidence was in full flow during the play-off, where he absolutely rifled his tee shot and fired his wedge close to set up the victory.
For me, it's fair to say Johnson is back to his best. He struggled a little bit over the summer and lost his early-season momentum after his injury, but this will do him the world of good.
Coming back and winning in New York, especially in the way he beat Jordan Spieth when the Open champion didn't look like he could be beaten, will do a lot for him heading into the next few weeks.
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