Johnston Claims Bridgestone Golf Invitational Title

By ESPN

Dustin Johnson sailed off to the Bahamas for a private celebration of winning his first major championship at the U.S. Open.

He came roaring back at the Bridgestone Invitational. In the toughest conditions at Firestone in nearly a decade, Johnson made it look easy Sunday, when he closed with a 4-under 66 and rallied from a 3-shot deficit against the world's No. 1 player to win another World Golf Championship.

He needed some help from Jason Day, who collapsed on the back nine. Johnson did his part by making a tough par save on the 15th hole, when he got in range, and pouring in a 15-foot birdie putt on the 17th hole that made a bogey at the end meaningless.

Two starts, two victories, and now No. 2 in the world.

"It's the first time I've won two tournaments in a row," Johnson said after his 1-shot victory over Scott Piercy. "I mean, that's big. I'm excited and looking forward to going over to the British with the golf game in good form."

Johnson looks like the player to beat at Royal Troon, with a frightening combination of driving, wedges and -- finally -- putts falling.

Day was also looking forward to the British Open -- anything to take his mind off the finish. He had a 1-shot lead, then didn't hit a green in regulation over the last six holes.

Far more damaging was the par-5 16th hole. He tried to play it safe off the tee on the 655-yard hole and hooked a 3-wood into the trees. He blasted through the branches and across the fairway and got a good break when a young fan picked up his ball, which allowed Day a free drop from behind a tree. Then, he tried to squeeze a shot from 200 yards around the pond. It came up short and rode the collar of the bank into the water, which led to double-bogey.

Johnson, Spieth, Watson, Fowler Qualify for Olympics

Dustin Johnson, Jordan Spieth, Bubba Watson and Rickie Fowler will qualify for the first U.S. men's Olympic golf team in 112 years when the final rankings are released July 11.

According to officials at the Official World Golf Ranking, which the International Golf Federation uses to fill out the Olympic field, no American competing in this week's Scottish Open can surpass Fowler for the fourth and final spot on the U.S. roster.

The PGA Tour's Greenbrier Classic was slated to be played July 7-10 and would have been the final American-based qualifying event, but that tournament was canceled due to deadly flooding in West Virginia.

On the women's side for Team USA, Lexi Thompson and Stacy Lewis are qualified for the Olympics if the rankings hold to form a week from now. However, this week's U.S. Women's Open could cause volatility.

American Gerina Piller, No. 16 in the world rankings released Monday, would have to move up at least one spot to punch her ticket to Rio. That's because both the women's and men's 60-player fields are filled out by two golfers per country from the world rankings, unless a nation has four or more players inside the top 15. In that case, only the top four can make their national squad.

Of the four American men, only Watson has said unequivocally that he will be in Rio for the Olympics. On Saturday afternoon during the television broadcast of the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational, Johnson said that, as of that moment, he is planning on being in Rio.