Johnson looks to take sting out

AFTER the sting of missing his only cut of the year at the British Open, world No. 1 Dustin Johnson will try to soothe the wound with a return to the top of the leaderboard at the Canadian Open.

If Johnson was looking for a course to get his game back on track he could not have picked a better layout than Glen Abbey, a venue where he has twice finished runner-up.

It also favours big-hitters like himself and good friend, US Open champion Brooks Koepka.

After a sun-baked Carnoustie, golfers making the trip to Canada will shift gears and change tactics as they take on a lush green Glen Abbey. Nowhere is that difference likely to be more telling than on the scoreboard. Italy’s Francesco Molinari hoisted the Claret Jug on Sunday with an eight-under score. Venezuela’s Jhonattan Vegas, who will be chasing a third straight Canadian Open, lifted the title last year with a 21-under total and could need to go even lower to complete the Canadian hattrick.

For Johnson the missed cut at Carnoustie, his first in 21 events dating back to last year’s US Open, was the only hiccup in what has otherwise been a sturdy campaign that has seen him pick up two wins and a Tour best eight top-10 finishes to sit top of the FedEx Cup standings.

“I feel like I have definitely played well here, I like the golf course it sets up well for me,” Johnson told reporters after a practice round yestersday. “I really didn’t play poorly (at the British Open), I feel like I am hitting it well, swinging it well.

“I’ve finished second here twice so I have been very close, I have a lot of good memories here.”– Reuters