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New York Post
7 hours ago
- Sport
- New York Post
Dustin Johnson's Oakmont return could help rescue his now-invisible career
OAKMONT, Pa. — Dustin Johnson's U.S. Open victory in 2016, the last time it was played at Oakmont before its return this week, feels like a lot more than nine years ago. It seems like Johnson, 40 now and a member of LIV Golf, has been playing his golf in Witness Protection. His last victory on the PGA Tour was at the 2020 Masters, his second career major championship and a part of his 24 career wins on the PGA Tour. Though he's won three times on LIV since joining it in 2022, Johnson, whose world ranking has plummeted to 884th, hasn't won on the Saudi circuit this year, though he enters this week coming off a tie for 10th at last week's tournament in Virginia. This week, he'll be trying to recreate the mojo he had in 2016, when he won in 4-under par. 'Obviously, a lot of good memories from that year here,'' Johnson said Monday after playing the front nine in a practice round. 'Obviously, it was a long time ago. I like coming back here. I love the golf course. 'I was back here one other time when I got my honorary membership here, for that ceremony, which was really nice. [I'm] a proud member of Oakmont. I'm probably their favorite member because I never come.' 3 Dustin Johnson hits a shot during his practice round ahead of the U.S. Open on June 9. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect Johnson's form in recent majors has been suspect. Since he finished tied for sixth in the 2022 British Open, he has only one top 10 finish in the past 10 majors, with five missed cuts. He missed the cut at the Masters in April, finishing his second round with a bogey on 17 and a double on 18 to miss the cut by one shot. 3 Dustin Johnson celebrates after winning the U.S. Open in 2016. Getty Images Then came the PGA Championship last month in Charlotte, N.C., where he missed the cut by a mile at 12-over. 'I know my score didn't reflect it at the PGA, but I actually played way better than the score,'' he said. 'I just struggled a little bit on the greens. Well, maybe that's an understatement. I struggled really bad on the greens. 'Golf is a strange sport,'' Johnson went on. 'I don't feel like I've slipped any. My scores haven't reflected [that], but it is a really fine line. Over the last couple months, I'm starting to see a lot of patterns and the game feels like it's coming back into good form. 'I feel like my game's been really close. I haven't really gotten a lot out of it. It was definitely nice to have a nice finish last week [in Virginia]. I played really solid every day, hit it nice, gave myself a lot of opportunities, [but I] still kind of gave some shots away each round that you can't afford to do at a golf course like this. 'It was nice to finally see the game progress a little bit.'' 3 Dustin Johnson addresses reporters during a press conference June 9 ahead of the U.S. Open. Getty Images Asked what he recalls from his 2016 victory, Johnson said, 'I drove it really straight [and] I hit a lot of fairways.'' He also hit a lot of greens, ranking No. 1 in the field that week in greens in regulation. He ranked 18th in driving. 'That was the only reason I shot that well,'' he said. 'Somehow, I figured out a way to get it under par. It was mostly the driving. Obviously, even driving it in the fairway here, it's still really difficult, but I hit a lot of good drives and a lot of good iron shots.' He believes that performance, even if it took place nine years ago, might help him this week. 'I have confidence on this golf course because I know I played well,'' he said. 'Obviously, this week puts a lot of pressure on the driver. I feel like I'm driving the ball really good right now. Even from there, though, it doesn't get much easier. You definitely have to hit it in the fairway if you want a chance to win around here.''
France 24
8 hours ago
- Sport
- France 24
Back after first major win, Johnson again seeks top form at Oakmont
The 40-year-old American, who also won the 2020 Masters, called Oakmont the hardest course he has played on Monday but says his 2016 US Open victory boosts his hopes when the 125th US Open begins Thursday. "I have confidence in this golf course because I know I played well," he said. "This week puts a lot of pressure on the driver. I feel like I'm driving the ball really good right now. "You definitely have to hit it in the fairway if you want a chance to win around here." Johnson finished on four-under 276 for a three-shot victory in 2016, solving the iconic course by avoiding its dense rough. "I drove it really straight. I hit a lot of fairways. That was the only reason I shot that well," Johnson said. ""Seems like it's tougher this time around, but that's just maybe with the little bit of added length." Johnson has won at least once in each of the past six years and three times in three years since jumping from the PGA Tour to Saudi-backed LIV Golf. But he hasn't won since 2024 in Las Vegas. "I don't feel like I've slipped any. My scores haven't reflected, but it is a really fine line," Johnson said. "For me it's always really close to being good, but just getting back there and keeping it consistent. Over the last couple months I'm starting to see a lot of patterns and the game feels like it's coming back into good form." Johnson said he doesn't see more pressure to perform well in majors because he plays in LIV Golf, where a lack of world ranking points limits potential qualifying for majors. "Not really. It's still a major. It's still the same amount of pressure no matter where you're playing," Johnson said. "I'm looking forward to playing in it this week and hopefully can contend." This week marks only the second time Johnson has returned to Oakmont since his debut major win, the other occasion being to accept an honorary membership in the club. "I'm probably their favorite member because I never come," Johnson said. "It's really nice to be back. The course is just as hard as I remember, if not harder. I like coming back here. A lot of good memories from that year."
Yahoo
8 hours ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Back after first major win, Johnson again seeks top form at Oakmont
Two-time major winner Dustin Johnson signs autographs for fans during a practice session ahead of the 125th US Open at Oakmont, where he won his first major crown in 2016 (Warren Little) Nine years after capturing his first major victory at Oakmont, Dustin Johnson returns to the formidable layout trying to recapture the form that made him so special back in 2016. The 40-year-old American, who also won the 2020 Masters, called Oakmont the hardest course he has played on Monday but says his 2016 US Open victory boosts his hopes when the 125th US Open begins Thursday. Advertisement "I have confidence in this golf course because I know I played well," he said. "This week puts a lot of pressure on the driver. I feel like I'm driving the ball really good right now. "You definitely have to hit it in the fairway if you want a chance to win around here." Johnson finished on four-under 276 for a three-shot victory in 2016, solving the iconic course by avoiding its dense rough. "I drove it really straight. I hit a lot of fairways. That was the only reason I shot that well," Johnson said. ""Seems like it's tougher this time around, but that's just maybe with the little bit of added length." Advertisement Johnson has won at least once in each of the past six years and three times in three years since jumping from the PGA Tour to Saudi-backed LIV Golf. But he hasn't won since 2024 in Las Vegas. "I don't feel like I've slipped any. My scores haven't reflected, but it is a really fine line," Johnson said. "For me it's always really close to being good, but just getting back there and keeping it consistent. Over the last couple months I'm starting to see a lot of patterns and the game feels like it's coming back into good form." Johnson said he doesn't see more pressure to perform well in majors because he plays in LIV Golf, where a lack of world ranking points limits potential qualifying for majors. Advertisement "Not really. It's still a major. It's still the same amount of pressure no matter where you're playing," Johnson said. "I'm looking forward to playing in it this week and hopefully can contend." This week marks only the second time Johnson has returned to Oakmont since his debut major win, the other occasion being to accept an honorary membership in the club. "I'm probably their favorite member because I never come," Johnson said. "It's really nice to be back. The course is just as hard as I remember, if not harder. I like coming back here. A lot of good memories from that year." js/rcw
New York Post
16-05-2025
- Sport
- New York Post
Dustin Johnson is in PGA Championship hell as career dropoff continues
Dustin Johnson's quest for a third major couldn't have gone any worse this week. The LIV Golf star, 40, continued his tumble down the leaderboard Friday at the 2025 PGA Championship, one day after he shot a seven-over par 78 in Thursday's opening round at Quail Hollow. Advertisement Johnson finished Friday's second round with a five-over par 76, putting him at 12-over overall and in 152nd place — in a 156-player field. He was undone by his putting, as he ranks second-to-last in the field in strokes gained with the short stick. 5 Dustin Johnson is off to a brutal start at the 2025 PGA Championship. Getty Images Advertisement He wrapped the front nine Friday with two bogeys and a double bogey, then added a double bogey and a bogey on two of the first three holes of the back nine. The 2020 Masters victor, who has not won a major championship since, missed the cut at Augusta National last month after shooting a three-over par. 5 Dustin Johnson shot a seven-over par 78 during the opening round of the PGA Championship on May 15, 2025. Getty Images 5 The 2020 Masters champion is in danger of missing the cut. Getty Images Advertisement Rory McIlroy went on to win his first green jacket while completing a career Grand Slam in a thrilling playoff victory over Justin Rose. Johnson is now in his fourth season on the Saudi-backed LIV Golf circuit and has yet to score a victory this season. The 2016 U.S. Open winner defected to the rebel league in 2022 — the first huge name to do so — and was reportedly paid around $125 million. 5 Dustin Johnson missed the cut at the 2025 Masters, where he was joined by wife Paulina Gretzky. Getty Images Advertisement 5 She showed her support at the 2025 PGA Championship. Instagram Ahead of this year's PGA Championship, Johnson was invited to contend by the PGA of America via a special exemption. The former world No. 1 was permitted to participate in the past five tournaments because of his Masters win. Johnson, whose wife, Paulina Gretzky, has been showing her support in Charlotte, is hardly the only notable name to be struggling in North Carolina. Reigning PGA Champion Xander Schauffele is currently 1-over par, while McIlroy sits at 3-over. Those two tee off with Scottie Scheffler, one year removed from his shocking arrest at Valhalla Golf Club over a miscommunication about traffic flow. The PGA Championship runs through Sunday.
Yahoo
13-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Reporter Amanda Balionis Turns Heads in Interview Before the Masters
Golf reporter Amanda Balionis witnessed a record-setting performance from Dustin Johnson in 2020, but his performance on the course isn't the only reason she remembers that tournament so well. Balionis, who launched her CBS career in 2017, sat down with fellow reporter Kira K. Dixon ahead of the Masters this weekend to discuss the wild COVID-delayed tournament won by Johnson. Advertisement "The one that sticks out is 2020 Masters in November," she began, via the Mirror. "It was just surreal in general. Gosh, talk about being grateful to be here, to be able to have that interview with Dustin Johnson after he left Butler Cabin." "...I was watching Dustin as we were in commercial break and no one was talking, and there were all of these photographers in front of us getting ready to get their green jacket photo of Dustin after." Balionis set the stage, revealing his brother and caddie, Austin, had already been crying and his wife, Paulina, was sitting by with tears in her eyes as well while Johnson was forced to wait for his on camera moment. Advertisement "You can tell that this is the first moment Dustin has had to take a breath and soak in what he has just accomplished – with the green jacket on," she said. "And when he broke down in that interview I just thought, 'this is the Dustin everyone's been dying to see'. Like we all know he cares but he never let us see how much he cared before that moment." Balionis chalked the emotions up not only to the win, but the wonder of Augusta National. "And again, there's just something so magical about this place and this tournament that there's no keeping those walls up when you've accomplished something that you've dreamed about your entire life," she said. Johnson will get the chance to win another green jacket when he tees off at 12:11 p.m. ET on Thursday, April 10. Related: Paulina Gretzky Turns Heads With Vacation Photos Before the Masters
