Dustin Johnson slams in eagle putt to win first LIV Golf playoff in Boston

Dustin Johnson slammed home an incredible eagle putt on the first playoff hole at the LIV Golf Boston Invitational to secure his first victory in the Saudi-backed series.

Having finished alongside Joaquin Niemann and Anirban Lahiri on 15-under-par in regulation play at The International, Johnson holed a monster eagle putt on the par-5 18th hole which saw his ball smack the back of the cup before popping in.

The two-time major champion shot a 65 on Sunday to take him to the top of a competitive LIV Golf leaderboard. Despite a wayward shot to the 18th green in regulation play, he managed to save par to tie the lead.

Lahiri, making his LIV debut this week, missed a golden opportunity to pick up the $4 million winner's prize when his short eagle putt on his 54th hole curled around the lip, leaving the Indian devastated.

His 64 and Niemann's 66 took them into a playoff with Johnson. Meanwhile, Lee Westwood and Cameron Smith made late bogeys to miss out on the playoff by one shot on 14-under-par.

DJ EAGLE FOR THE WIN!!! #LIVGolf #LIVGolfBoston @DJohnsonPGA pic.twitter.com/O5CffhnVQ7

— LIV Golf (@LIVGolfInv) September 4, 2022

Westwood, who is set to play in the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth next week, shot a 62 in the final round which was the low score of the week.

As for the playoff, Johnson and Lahiri found the fairway on 18 while Niemann found the righthand rough. The 23-year-old South American hit his second shot into the bunker short of the green.

Lahiri hit his approach through the putting surface, but an up-and-down for birdie was realistic. Johnson, part of the 4 Aces team which has now won three consecutive invitationals, found the green on this par-5 in two, but his ball rolled below the hole and on the bottom tier.

This was no issue. The 38-year-old rolled his ball up the slope and the hole got in the way. He celebrated with his caddie and brother Austin as he won the maximum combined individual and team prize of $4.75 million.

Talor Gooch, Pat Perez and Patrick Reed also picked up $750,000 each for their troubles. Bryson DeChambeau and Lahiri's Crushers team came second while Westwood's Majesticks team came third.

"It was going a little fast, but it was a good line! I felt like I played really well all week, I got some unlucky breaks here (18th hole) the first time around, so it owed me one and I got it," Johnson said on Sunday.

"You know the guys are playing different holes, so you've just got to handle your business. It doesn't really matter, I knew I needed a birdie on 18 in regulation.

"I felt like I hit a really good drive and hit a really good second shot - I made a good five to get in the playoff and then obviously made a really nice putt there."