{{ubiquityData.prevArticle.description}}
{{ubiquityData.nextArticle.description}}
As Dustin Johnson was completing the formalities of a champion after winning the Saudi International for a second time in three years, renowned coach Claude Harmon III wandered over and said in a hushed tone: “He is playing some good golf.”
The instructor then pondered for a bit, before deciding to leave the understatements to his client.
“He is playing really, really good golf,” Harmon said, his eyes widening to the maximum. “It’s almost like Tiger (Woods) and (Jack) Nicklaus. I have been around for some time in this business and I have seen Tiger at his best from up close. What Dustin is doing at the moment is almost in that territory.”
It was the American’s third win in his past eight starts, including the Masters in November, and he now has had only one finish outside the top-10 in the past six months – tied 11th in January’s Sentry Tournament of Champions.
The lead for Johnson at the top of the Official World Golf Ranking was 2.62 average points ahead of No 2 Jon Rahm before the Saudi International win, and it is growing.
So is his reputation.
On Sunday, Johnson did not even bring his “C” game to the golf course. The putter was stone cold (-1.81 shots gained putting, which put him at 64th place among the 76 players who made the cut), and his trusted driver was malfunctioning and leaving him in the rough more times than in the fairways. Yet, he managed to stay two shots clear of runners-up Justin Rose (65) and Tony Finau (67).
"I don’t just try to get my game ready for the majors. I want to be ready each and every week wherever I play."
Dustin Johnson
Johnson found only 27 out of 56 fairways during the week (107th in the field), but it was his remarkable ability to muscle the ball out from the rough to the green that stood out once again. He missed just 12 greens in regulation for the week.
There was a time when questions were raised about his temperament and his ability to close tournaments. He’d flounder repeatedly when in winning situations.
While the Sunday 68 was his worst score in 12 rounds at Royal Greens Golf & Country Club, it was still a battling 2-under effort in tricky conditions. He may not have made birdies, but he was not going to give shots back either. In fact, his only bogey of the tournament came on the 70th hole. The other blemish was a double bogey on the 13th on Saturday.
“That is probably the biggest change in Dustin now,” Harmon added. “He has now become a closer. Other players now know that he is not going to give in easily.
“I think this is a big win for him. He could have easily had a bigger lead coming into Sunday and definitely a larger winning margin if he had putted even slightly better. For those of us who are around him, know that he never even got into the fifth gear.”
Johnson seems to have mastered the art of completely disassociating himself from results. Nothing bothers him on the golf course … at least that’s how it looks to the onlookers.
In Saturday’s third round, two moments stood out that illustrate the point.
On the par-5 fourth hole, he fatted his second shot from the middle of the fairway when an eager photographer clicked on his backswing. Johnson did not even glare at the guilty. He just lumbered up to the ball, hit his third to 5 feet and walked off with a birdie.
Later, on the par-4 13th hole, he pushed his 8-iron second shot from the middle of the fairway. It bounced on a bank and rolled down into water. Johnson had played 48 holes until then without a bogey, only to make a double there. Nothing changed in his demeanour.
“Oh … I do get frustrated on the golf course,” Johnson said. “But a few bad shots here and there don’t bother me. I just try not to let it linger too long. I know I’m doing things right, but there are times when it doesn’t go your way.
“I think it’s just me. I haven’t done anything consciously to become like this. I just try to be patient.”
The win in 2021 has come quickly, but don’t expect Johnson to take his foot off the accelerator. In two months, he will be at Augusta National Golf Club to defend his title and he is excited about the possibilities.
“I am very happy with where my game is. I am seeing a lot of the same things every week, which is good,” the 36-year-old said. “I like to play well every week, so I approach every tournament the same way. I don’t just try to get my game ready for the majors. I want to be ready each and every week wherever I play.
“It’s definitely nice to get a win in an event that is not on my tour. After Augusta, to get my first win … obviously, the game’s still in really good form and I’m excited about the rest of the year.”
Harmon said Johnson is extremely motivated right now and he expects rigorous practice sessions the moment they land back in the United States.
“He just wants to keep winning, ” Harmon added. “He has worked so hard to become the world No 1 player, he now wants to stay there as long as possible.
“He knows that every tournament he tees up, he is probably the favourite and all the other players are gunning for him. He takes his status in the game very seriously and it doesn’t matter where he is playing. We flew in here this week from the US, but he expected nothing less than a win here. ”
Johnson plans to take a week off and tee it up next at the Genesis Invitational at Riviera Country Club, followed by the World Golf Championship event at the Concession Club in Bradenton, Florida.
Few would be surprised if he produces more fireworks at both.
E-Mail JOY