Anand Datla in New Providence, Bahamas
December 03, 2016: I am not very sure if Bobby Jones might approve of Dustin Johnson and his ways. But the man that reminded us famously – “Golf is a game that is played on a five-inch course — the distance between your ears,” could find the US Open champion proving just that here in the Hero World Challenge.
The man from South Carolina has been taking in some well-deserved rest ever since he was on the winning Ryder Cup team in September. Playing only for the second time since that famous thumping of the Europeans, Dustin Johnson is having a serene week in the Bahamas.
The three-time winner in 2016 has produced symmetrical rounds of 66 each so far, going three under for every nine holes that he has played this week. It is incredibly smooth for a man that has admitted to lacking any serious practice ahead of the tournament.
“I haven’t put in much practice, but starting now, I’ll be kind of getting ready for next year,” Johnson told the media immediately after signing his card. “I didn’t lose much, I guess.”
Dustin Johnson speaks with a lazy drool that belies his intense hunger for success as a golfer. It is easy to be tricked into believing that he almost does not care. But that is about as far from the truth as you can get.
DJ, as he is popularly called, is an intense competitor with a mean swing. His three shot victory at Oakmont took a monkey off his back, finally winning his first major after teasing fate several times over the past few years.
The lanky golfer has been playing with remarkable freedom since then, as victories at the Bridgestone Invitational and the BMW Championship served to remind us. The course in Albany suits Dustin Johnson rather well.
There are five par-5 holes on this course and Johnson is already nine under on those in just two rounds.
Hideki Matsuyama, on a roll after taking three victories and a second place in his last four starts, is tied for the lead with the American. He could have been ahead but for a late bogey at the 17th hole.
No surprises, if the winner came from their final pairing on Saturday. But defending champion, Bubba Watson served a friendly reminder of his intentions with a fine 63 on Friday, lying three off the pace. So we are set for an intriguing finish on what promises to be a windy Sunday.
