Johnson holds off Stricker at windy Tournament of Champions

Dustin Johnson won the Tournament of Champions in Hawaii after finishing 16-under-par at the reduced three-round event on Monday. Play was abandoned the previous three days due to high winds.

Masters champion Bubba Watson pretends to tee off as his caddy Ted Scott holds a finger on the ball to keep it from blowing away during Sunday's delayed opening round of the Tournament of Champions.

Charlie Beljan leans into the wind after taking a rehit on a tee shot on Sunday, when play was called off for the third day in a row in the PGA Tour's season-opening event.

Winds reached almost 50 miles per hour at the Plantation Course in Kapalua, Hawaii.

Scott Stallings shields himself from the wind and rain as he attempts to putt on the second hole green on Friday.

The $5.7 million tournament, which features 30 winners from the 2012 season, has been put back to a Tuesday finish with only 54 of the 72 holes potentially to be played.

HIDE CAPTION

Joy for Johnson

Blowing Bubba

Beljan's battle

Wind up

A long weekend

Tuesday finish

<<

<

1

2

3

4

5

6

>

>>

(CNN) -- Dustin Johnson clinched the opening PGA Tour title of 2013 after holding off a final round challenge from fellow American Steve Stricker at the Tournament of Champions in Hawaii.

The season's curtain-raiser pitted 30 winners from 2012 against each other, but play was delayed by three days as high winds and torrential rain battered the Kapalua resort and caused the event to be reduced to just three rounds.

World No. 12 Johnson, three shots clear of defending champion Stricker heading into the final day, carded a five-under-par 68 to finish 16 under for tournament.

Stricker, one place behind Johnson in the world rankings, had a putt to draw level with Johnson at the 13th but he missed and his rival carded an eagle at the 14th to move into an unassailable four-stroke lead.

Branden Grace on remarkable wins

Expert: How to improve your putting

The rise of South Africa's black golfers

Read: Golf star breaks leg in skiing accident

"It gives me a lot of confidence going into this year," Johnson told the Tour's official website after becoming the first player since Tiger Woods to win a PGA Tour title in each of his first six seasons out of college.

Stricker started the day in confident mood, but his slip at the 13th proved decisive as he eventually finished 12 under following a bogey-free round of 69.

"I actually thought, as we started the round today, I could really put some serious pressure on this guy because I'm going to hit first every time to the green," said the 45-year-old, who is 90 under for his last 20 rounds at the Hawaii course.

"I had an opportunity, which is why we play is to have that opportunity to try to win. I had some chances today.

"I had some chances to put some pressure on early. Missed some putts there early in the round that could have made a difference, maybe not, but who knows-type thing."

Johnson and Stricker's 2012 U.S. Ryder Cup teammate Brandt Snedeker carded a 69 to finish 10 under, one shot clear of reigning Masters champion Bubba Watson (71) and 2011 PGA Championship winner Keegan Bradley (70).

World No. 31 Rickie Fowler finished on eight under after a stunning six-under-par 67. The American was forced to start the tournament three times after wind halted his first two attempts.

Englishman Ian Poulter, one of the heroes of Europe's remarkable comeback victory against the U.S. in the September's Ryder Cup, finished five under after closing with a 69.

The 2012 PGA Championship winner Webb Simpson was four under for the following a final round 71.