LOS ANGELES – Dustin Johnson just rolled in a 16 footer for a birdie at No. It must have seemed like he had set a course record when Dustin Johnson rolled in a 16-footer for birdie on No.
David Winkle, his agent, was waiting for him at the scoring tent. He gave a fist-pump, smiled and shook hands with everyone.
Winkle said, “That was a real gut punch.”
DJ replied, “I know.” But to fight back after that… it could’ve gone either way.
Johnson isn’t just thrilled to play on the weekend of the U.S. Open. He’s also delighted to be in striking distance with 6 under or, as he puts it, “in a great spot with 36 more holes.”
This round, and this championship could have all gone wrong about 30 minutes into Friday’s play when Johnson suffered that gut punch: a quadruple bogey at the second-hole, dropping to 2 under.
Johnson’s weekend was dependent on his recovery.
Johnson was proud of his return and how he finished the round.
His recovery began with his next shot. A 300-yard drive down the middle of fairway at the par-4 3rd hole led to a 14 footer that dropped in from the side for his most important birdie on his first two rounds.
What was the significance of the tee-shot on No. After Johnson was beating up himself on the green-to-tee-walk?
He said, “The most important thing of the day is…”
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“It was a great shot, and I just needed to settle down after making a 8 …”,” he said. “I wasn’t very happy with my performance on that green.”
This hole was so different from No. The second hole, a 490-yard par 4, was at one time Friday the eighth hardest on the North Course of the LA Country Club with an average score 4.2.
But a quad? The hole was a mess of bogeys. Johnson’s Snowman was the only double.
Johnson tried to recall his worst shots on the hole. He stopped when he said he had “chunked”, his bunker shot, and then “chunked”, the next and “skulled”, the next.
He said, “Everything you could possibly do wrong I did.”
The barranca is a biting animal.
Dustin Johnson scores a quadruple on No. 2. #USOpen pic.twitter.com/naWYKQETQZ
U.S. Open Golf (@usopengolf). 16 June 2023
It was a good drive, even though it hit the bunker.
Then, his second shot from the bunker went 95 yards into the rough. This lie caused another chunk to travel 60 yards before landing in fescue. He chipped it over the green, then back into the rough after a penalty. This shot chip rolled past the pin by 28 feet.
A merciful two-putt followed.
He said, “It does happen sometimes.” “But I just fought back and played an excellent round of golf.
It’s not the very first time I’ve done big numbers.
Johnson smiled when he said this. At this point, he was able to. After losing that birdie at No. After a bogey at No. Johnson scored on the No. 8-12, 15-18.
It could have been better.
He said, “Still miss a few good birdie looks.” “I missed a few birdies and I lipped a couple.”
Johnson’s intimidation factor has diminished since joining LIV Golf. He also struggled in the majors this season. He is not the golfer that he used to be during his 135-week reign at No. The majority of 2017 and much of 2018 were spent as the No.
Johnson, a two-time winner of majors, is coming off a 48th place finish at the PGA Championship. He also finished 55th in the Masters. Johnson missed the cut in the PGA Championship last year. He then finished 24th at U.S. Open, and 6th at British Open.
He’s now one of LIV’s jewels on the tour. Signed for an estimated $150 million and earned over $35 million in prize-money during his first LIV year.
The future of his LIV is also cloudy. No one knows what will happen to the league following last week’s announcement. The Tour and Saudi Arabia Public Investment Fund (which finances LIV) signed an agreement which would combine their commercial business. Accordingly, the Tour has a large say in LIV’s existence.
Johnson does not appear to be concerned, however, after telling ESPN he had been told that LIV was working on a complete schedule for next season.
He must avoid any further quadruple-bogeys to remain in contention for his third major title on Sunday.
He said, “I know how to win.” You have to do it all well. I feel that I am swinging and rolling the ball really well. If I keep driving like I am now, I will be here at the weekend.
