Dustin Johnson: Masters champion and world number one's uncomplicated approach to game (2024)

Only Tiger Woods and Greg Norman have spent more time as golf's world number one than Dustin Johnson, who defends his Masters title at Augusta next week.

Johnson won his first Green Jacket last November with a record-breaking display, becoming the first man to finish 20 under par in the tournament's history.

When he is on song, which a regular occurrence, there is no more tuneful figure in the modern game. DJ taps into a highly effective golfing melody that creates seemingly effortless efficiency.

Booming drives, accurate wedges, unerring putts; it is the sport's ultimate package. As Rory McIlroy commented after playing with him at the last Masters: "See ball, hit ball, see putt, go to the next. He makes it look so simple at times."

Johnson's ability to make the game appear easy is well known. He has spent only one week outside the world's top five since winning his first major, the US Open in June 2016.

But there were popular misconceptions about this bearded, athletic 36-year-old which were finally laid bare by his Augusta triumph last autumn.

  • Johnson withdraws from Texas Open to focus on Masters

Johnson's usual undemonstrative, unflappable demeanour suggested an insouciance that led observers to conclude he could find his best golf because, actually, he was not burdened by caring too much.

This, after all, was the player who told his team to cheer up when they jumped into their car after he blew the 2015 US Open by three-putting from 12 feet on the 72nd green at Chambers Bay.

Johnson was also the figure who smiled at his manager after hitting out of bounds at the 2011 Open, reminding him that his runner-up finish to Darren Clarke at Royal St George's was his best major finish to date.

But last November anyone who saw Johnson break down in tears during his interview after being presented with the Masters trophy knows this man cares about his golfing successes.

He really cares.

"I'm nervous every day on the first tee," Johnson told BBC Sport in an interview to be aired on BBC Radio 5 Live on Thursday from 21:00 BST. "I feel it because it means something to me.

"I want to do well, I want to perform. I think it was (Jack) Nicklaus who said, you know, the day he's not nervous on the first tee is the day he stops playing."

At the Masters Johnson struggled to swallow as he tried to force down almond butter and jelly sandwiches during his four-under-par 68 in the final round which left him five strokes clear of the field.

"You know, I feel it but I've been in this situation enough to know what my body does and how it reacts," he said. "In those situations I try and stay calm and collected so I can pull off the shot that I'm trying to hit."

Johnson possesses a healthy sense of perspective. A bad round might lead to a corrective visit to the range but there will be no histrionics.

"I'm not going to be angry or upset and when I've played really well I'm not jumping up and down in the locker room either," said the man who secured his most recent victory at the Saudi International last February.

"It's golf, you know. You're going to play good and you're going to play bad. It's managing the days that you don't have your best."

Johnson's reputation for being an uncomplicated soul seriously underestimates a mind that has perhaps worked out golf better than anyone since Woods burst onto the scene. Johnson has, undoubtedly, established how best to maximise his golfing gifts.

"It's what I've developed over time, figuring out what works for me and just continuing to try to make that better," he said.

"I know what I'm capable of and what shots I can hit and what shots I can't, so I just try to stick to what I'm good at and play my game."

While others, such as Bryson DeChambeau, take a scientific route to seek more speed which also influenced rivals including Rory McIlroy to tamper with strengths in their game, Johnson's approach is simpler and makes more sense.

We discussed the processes that have taken him to the top of the game and he explained: "I really just took a look at the stats and where I could improve my golf.

"It was from 150 yards and in. It was something that I could get substantially better at and that's what I work very hard on.

"I still do constantly. I spend probably 90% of my time with pitching wedge, sand wedge, 60 (degree wedge), chipping and putting.

"It's somewhere I feel I can still get better at so I continue to work very hard on that and I feel like it transfers into the rest of my game. If I'm hitting those shots the way that I want to I'll hit the rest of my clubs how I want to."

It also helps that mid-career he switched from a potentially ruinous draw off the tee. His controlled left to right fade removes lurking danger from one side of a course and frequently means fairways are found with distance and accuracy.

"Obviously I still work on the long game but I spend way more time on the short game," he added. "I mean putting is a third of your round.

"Even if I'm not driving it well, if I'm still getting it up and down by hitting my wedges close I can still put together a pretty good round."

It is an approach as simple as it is clever. It breeds smart golf, distilling this game of numbers into its key components.

And the figures do not lie. He has now spent 121 weeks of his career as world number one.

Woods (683 weeks) and Norman (331) are a long way ahead but Johnson's points average is nearly two better than his closest rival, Justin Thomas.

The size of that margin equates to the gap between Thomas and DeChambeau who is fifth in the standings.

On that basis, it does not take a genius to work out that DJ is unlikely to be shifted from the pinnacle anytime soon. He remains the man to beat at Augusta next week.

  • Obsessed with Line of Duty: Listen to reactions and predictions as the series unfolds

  • Evil Genius?: Diego Maradona's ability to delight and despair is debated on the show

Dustin Johnson: Masters champion and world number one's uncomplicated approach to game (2024)

FAQs

What is Dustin Johnson doing now? ›

And he admits as much. We never heard much from Dustin Johnson before, but we hear even less from him now, both on the microphone and on major leaderboards. He is tucked away on LIV with minimal media obligations, living his life down in South Florida. It's probably just how he wants it.

Did Dustin Johnson make the cut at Augusta? ›

AUGUSTA, Georgia, April 12 (Reuters) - Jordan Spieth and Dustin Johnson's hopes of adding to their respective collection of major championships got swept away in brutally windy conditions at Augusta National on Friday as they were among the high-profile players to miss the halfway cut.

Has Dustin Johnson ever won a Masters Tournament? ›

On November 15, Johnson won the Masters Tournament by five strokes with a record 20 under par total of 268, two strokes better than the previous record jointly held by Tiger Woods (in 1997) and Jordan Spieth (in 2015).

Why is Dustin Johnson not playing in the Masters? ›

— Dustin Johnson has withdrawn from the Masters after injuring his lower back in a fall at the home he was renting for the week. The world's No. 1-ranked player arrived at Augusta National on quite a roll, having won his last three starts. But he never took a shot at the first major championship of the year.

How much did Dustin Johnson get from Liv? ›

Dustin Johnson won $10,575,267 from individual competitions on the LIV Golf Circuit in 2022. He won the event in Boston and had three further top five finishes. In addition, he won the season-long points race on the LIV circuit and picked up a bonus of $18 million.

How much will a Masters winner get? ›

The total purse for the 2024 Masters Tournament is $20 million, an amount which exceeds the $18 million awarded to players in 2023. The winner will also take home $3.6 million — a bit more than $3.24 million won by 2023 champion Jon Rahm. But that leaves just under $16.4 million to be awarded to the runners up.

Is Dustin Johnson allowed to play in the Masters? ›

Dustin Johnson

After a runner-up finish in 2019, Johnson scorched Augusta National's greens in November of 2020 on his way to a scoring record of 20-under par and tournament invitations for life. This will be Johnson's 14th Masters appearance.

Do golfers get paid if they miss the cut at the Masters? ›

There are some variations and potentially more 'no cut' events to come, but the top 65 and ties in most regular PGA Tour and DP World Tour events make it through to the final two rounds and get paid; the rest earn nothing.

How many Liv players missed the cut at the Masters? ›

Five missed the cut, including Garcia himself. The 13 players finished a combined +82 for the weekend. It's a very different story to 2023, when they took three of the top six places before winner Jon Rahm subsequently defected to LIV. And at the PGA Championship last year, LIV's Brooks Koepka reigned supreme.

Who is the oldest to win the Masters golf tournament? ›

Jack Nicklaus became the oldest player to win a Masters Tournament, at 46 years, 2 months and 23 days – in 1986. Tiger Woods was the youngest player to win a Masters Tournament, at 21 years, 3 months and 14 days – in 1997.

Has any rookie won the Masters? ›

Only three rookies have ever won the Masters, Fuzzy Zoeller in 1979 being the last.

Has Jordan Spieth ever won the Masters? ›

Recent News. Jordan Spieth (born July 27, 1993, Dallas, Texas, U.S.) is an American professional golfer who, at age 21, won the 2015 Masters Tournament and the U.S. Open, two of golf's most prestigious events. He captured a third major title when he won the 2017 British Open.

Who missed the Masters Cut 2024? ›

2024 Masters missed cuts: Jordan Spieth, Viktor Hovland, Justin Thomas among stars not playing weekend.

Did Rickie Fowler make the Masters cut? ›

Rickie Fowler, Hideki Matsuyama and Tom Kim just barely survived the carnage, making the cut on the number at six over par, the highest Masters cut since 2017. But who did miss the weekend?

Why isn t Rickie Fowler playing in the Masters? ›

He missed the last three Masters tournaments due to poor performance, a jarring fall from grace from a regular contender at Augusta. From 2014 to 2020, Fowler finished 12th or better on five occasions and was the runner up behind Patrick Reed. History has not been kind to Par 3 Contest winners.

Is Dustin Johnson still married to Gretzky? ›

DUSTIN JOHNSON is one of the most successful golfers of his generation and he has had wife Paulina Gretzky by his side for much of his career. The sports star is regularly supported by his stunning spouse - who has a prosperous career of her own - while playing.

Can Liv players play in Masters? ›

Golfers who left the PGA Tour for LIV Golf can no longer compete in PGA events, but they can compete in the sport's four major championships, including the Masters.

What is Dustin Johnson's career earnings? ›

Based on his $135 million total career earnings over 16 professional years as of May 2023, his estimated average annual salary is $8.4 million. However, a few of the reports claim his salary to be $5 million. Dustin Johnson earned $11,009,017 from LIV Golf in 2022 and $3,338,150 in 2023.

How many children does Dustin Johnson have? ›

Dustin Johnson is the father of two kids, River and Tatum. Being a father is not only something that has changed Johnson's life, but he believes it has made him a better golfer as well, he has said.

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Ray Christiansen

Last Updated:

Views: 6329

Rating: 4.9 / 5 (69 voted)

Reviews: 84% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Ray Christiansen

Birthday: 1998-05-04

Address: Apt. 814 34339 Sauer Islands, Hirtheville, GA 02446-8771

Phone: +337636892828

Job: Lead Hospitality Designer

Hobby: Urban exploration, Tai chi, Lockpicking, Fashion, Gunsmithing, Pottery, Geocaching

Introduction: My name is Ray Christiansen, I am a fair, good, cute, gentle, vast, glamorous, excited person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.