Johnson secures lifetime status

The first World Golf Championship of 2019 took place over the weekend and for those of you who haven't heard about WGC events before, these are arguably the biggest events outside of golf's four majors.

Perhaps, then, it was no surprise to see two of golf's biggest names battle it out for top-spot over the four days, with Dustin Johnson and Rory McIlroy going blow-for-blow in Mexico as golf's other stars struggled to keep pace.

The final result was a five-shot victory for the big-hitting American, thanks to five birdies during a blemish-free back-nine on Sunday afternoon. For McIlroy, it was a story of what could have been as the Northern Irishman mixed countless birdies with nine bogeys and a double-bogey across the week. 

This was Johnson’s 20th PGA Tour title and pushed him back up to number two in the World Rankings, within touching distance of Justin Rose at the summit. It was a week where DJ also joined illustrious company in becoming only the fifth man in the last 50 years to win 20 PGA Tour titles before turning the grand old age of 35. But can you name the other four? Here’s a clue: two of them were playing in the tournament at weekend.

However, aside from claiming his sixth WGC title and third in Mexico, it meant Johnson will earn lifetime status on Tour as soon as he completes his 15th season. Not a bad weekend for the American and proof that hard work certainly pays off.