James Hahn wins Northern Trust Open

James Hahn of the USA defeated countryman Dustin Johnson and England’s Paul Casey in a playoff for the Northern Trust Open at Riviera Country Club. It was Hahn’s first PGA Tour title.

James Hahn of the USA defeated countryman Dustin Johnson and England’s Paul Casey in a playoff for the Northern Trust Open at Riviera Country Club. It was Hahn’s first PGA Tour title.

On a difficult final day at Riviera, the tournament was wide open right down to the wire, with no fewer than seven players sharing the lead during the last round. But it was Hahn, Casey and Johnson who ended 72-holes tied at the top of the board on six-under-par.

The three men returned to the 18th tee to settle the event via a playoff. Three pars on that hole meant they moved on to the treacherous 10th – only 310 yards but fraught with danger thanks to the firm, narrow green with the pin at the back.

Casey played a solid tee shot into the collection area to the left side of the green. Both Johnson and Hahn had extremely difficult shots from the rough through the back. But both played excellent recoveries that led to birdies.

Second time down the 10th, Hahn rolled in a 25-foot birdie putt and couldn’t watch as Johnson stood up to his 12-foot effort to match him. Johnson missed and the title went to Hahn. The victory means he will now start at Augusta in just under two months time.

“I never would have thought I would win this tournament,” he said.

A number of players had a chance to win the event outright. With two to play Dustin Johnson was tied for the lead with Sergio Garcia. Johnson left himself a short third into the par-5 17th, but put it in a greenside bunker and made a bogey. He then faced a 10-foot putt on the final green for birdie that narrowly missed.

Garcia three-putted the 17th for a bogey then played a poor chip on the last for another bogey that saw him finish one back.

Paul Casey bogeyed the 72nd hole after a strong run on the back nine as did Jordan Spieth who came up just one short of the playoff.

54-hole leader Retief Goosen collapsed on the back nine and eventually carded a 75 to end the tournament in a tie for eighth place.

Northern Trust Open Riviera Country Club, Pacific Palisades, California Feb 19-22, purse: $6,700,000, par: 71

1    James Hahn (USA)    66    74    69    69    278    $1,206,000 T2    Paul Casey (Eng)        70    69    71    68    278    $589,600 T2    Dustin Johnson (USA)    70    72    67    69    278    $589,600 T4    Keegan Bradley (USA)    73    68    70    68    279    $263,813 T4    Sergio Garcia (Esp)    71    69    68    71    279    $263,813 T4    Hideki Matsuyama (Jap) 70    72    70    67    279    $263,813 T4    Jordan Spieth (USA)    69    70    70    70    279    $263,813 T8    Sang-Moon Bae (Kor)    71    71    66    72    280    $187,600 T8    Graham DeLaest (Can)    70    67    70    73    280    $187,600 T8    Retief Goosen (RSA)    66    70    69    75    280    $187,600 T8    Kyle Reifers (USA)    72    70    71    67    280    $187,600

Note: Player score in bold signifies Titleist ball usage