Dustin Johnson pulls away late in Shanghai to win HSBC Champions

Dustin Johnson of the United States receives a ball on the 7th green during the final round of the HSBC Champions golf tournament at the Sheshan International Golf Club in Shanghai, China, Sunday, Nov. 3, 2013. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko) (The Associated Press)

Dustin Johnson of the United States acknowledges the crowd on the 8th green during the final round of the HSBC Champions golf tournament at the Sheshan International Golf Club in Shanghai, China, Sunday, Nov. 3, 2013. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko) (The Associated Press)

SHANGHAI – Against an all-world cast of contenders, Dustin Johnson won his first World Golf Championship on Sunday.

Johnson played a pivotal five-hole stretch in 5-under par, pulling away for good by pitching in for eagle on the 16th hole. That carried him to a 6-under 66 and a three-shot win over Ian Poulter in the HSBC Champions.

Johnson started the final round with a three-shot lead and lost it in two holes. The rest of the day was a compelling battle among Johnson, Poulter and Graeme McDowell, who had a 66 to finish four shots behind.

Johnson now has won in each of his first seven years on the PGA Tour, the most by any player since Tiger Woods. It was the second straight season he won his first tournament.