Written By Bobby Hall for StJudeClassic.com. Read Full Article.

Lifting the champion’s trophy at the FedEx St. Jude Classic on Seersucker Sunday was a lot easier for Dustin Johnson than trying to lift a jet ski several months ago.

Playing in only the second tournament since a back injury in March, the lanky Johnson broke out of a logjam of co-leaders with birdies on Nos. 16 and 17 at TPC Southwind, and held on for a one-stroke victory over John Merrick.

In his first appearance at the FESJC, the power-hitting Johnson showed that his back is obviously back, and the exciting week of golf assured that the “Thwack is Back” theme for 2012 was more than just a slogan.

“Coming into this week, I was really just trying to put myself in position to have a chance to win on Sunday,” said Johnson, 27, who closed with a 4-under-par 66 for 271.

With near-perfect weather most of the week and large crowds, the 55th stop of the PGA TOUR in Memphis turned into a final-round shootout for the $1,008,000 paycheck from the $5.6 million purse and the stylish Seersucker jacket.

Johnson started the day one shot out of the lead in a group of six players that included Rory McIlroy, who is currently No. 2 in the Official World Golf Rankings.

After 54 holes, with three co-leaders, and 16 players within three shots off the lead, co-leader Davis Love III had said, “The best way to do it is shoot the low round of the day . . . and guarantee you’re going to win.”

Johnson’s final round wasn’t the lowest. Former Memphian John Daly enjoyed that distinction with a 64 – matching the low round of the week — but he started too far back and tied for 19th.

The takeover by Johnson came when he got up and down for birdie at the par-five No. 16, and followed by sinking a 9-foot birdie putt on the difficult par-four No. 17.

While he was steadily avoiding trouble, other contenders were finding too much of it.

The victory was Johnson’s sixth on TOUR – most by players currently in their 20s. Johnson has won at least one TOUR event in each of the last five seasons – second-longest active streak of consecutive seasons with a victory, behind only Phil Mickelson’s nine.

Johnson, who had knee surgery in the off-season, was playing in only his second event since mid-March, when he hurt his back. After returning to the TOUR in last week’s Memorial Tournament and tying for 19th, he was eager for another test in Memphis before next week’s U. S. Open in San Francisco.

The more he saw of Southwind, the better his scores got – 70-68-67-66.

“The people I’d talked to said (Southwind) was a good course, so there’s really no reason why I never played here other than just where it fell on the schedule,” Johnson said. He added emphatically, and with a smile, “But I will be back.”

Merrick finished with 68, and his bid for a chip-in birdie on the final hole to tie Johnson barely slipped past the hole. A double-bogey on the par-four 12th, where he found the water twice, was more than Merrick could overcome.

“I butchered that hole,” he said. “All week my attitude was great. I kind of plugged along and put my head down and just had to grind it out. Some days it’s all about guts and grinding it out and that’s it.”

Tied for third at 273 were Ryan Palmer (66), Chad Campbell (68), Nick O’Hern (69) and Love III (69).

The continued toughness of the Southwind course was evident. The 9-under-par winning total marked the third time since 2005 that the FESJC champ has not reached double-digits under par.

For much of the day, McIlroy had been leading or tied for the lead. The defending champion in next week’s U. S. Open was only a stroke back after making birdie at No. 17, but found the water off the tee on No. 18 and made double-bogey.

McIlroy finished with 69-274 and tied for seventh.

“I had a great chance to win this week, and it didn’t quite happen,” he said. “I’m a little disappointed with that, but I can take a lot of positives from this week into the U.S. Open next week.”

Before leaving, McIlroy, who was playing in Memphis for the second time, described the tournament as “fantastic.”

“What it does for the (St. Jude) children’s hospital is absolutely incredible,” he said. “I think the whole community comes and supports the tournament. It’s played on agreat golf course. I really enjoyed myself this week.”

Johnson obviously did, too. At a tournament auction earlier in the week for St. Jude where a painting of him was being offered, he opened the bidding at $10,000.

When someone bid $11,000, he quickly followed with $12,000 — and got the item.

“I was going to bid on it to get the price up,” he said. “It’s just one of thosethings. St. Jude does such good things, so I knew the money I spent on the painting wasgoing to a good cause. I was happy to do it.”

Written By Bobby Hall for StJudeClassic.com. Read Full Article.