Johnson to defend title as proud papa
UNFLAPPABLE Dustin Johnson, fresh from the birth of his second son on Monday, said he likes his game and the Erin Hills layout ahead of the defense of his US Open title starting today.
Johnson’s partner Paulina Gretzky and newborn River Jones Johnson are back home from the hospital in California and world number one Johnson is in rural Wisconsin focused on trying to become the first man since Curtis Strange in 1989 to repeat as US Open champion.
Johnson arrived at Erin Hills on Tuesday, played some golf on the course, practiced yesterday morning, played nine holes and pronounced himself ready to go.
“It’s been very fun the last couple of days. Obviously having a new son on Monday was awesome,” he said.
“Everybody’s healthy. Mom is healthy. The baby is healthy. So that’s good. “They just got home today, so that’s exciting.
“She’s a lot more comfortable,” Johnson said about Paulina, “Obviously that’s a big relief, not having to worry about them.
“But now I’ve got to play golf. This is why I’m here. I’m here to play golf. I’m here to compete. So that’s what my job is this week.”
Offsetting his late arrival at Erin Hills, Johnson was able to get an early look at the course after missing the cut at the Memorial earlier this month.
At 7 741 yards from the back tips the par-72 links-styled track will be the longest course to stage a US Open and may favour big hitters even more since recent thunderstorms have dumped considerable rain on the rural layout.
“With the weather conditions we’ve had the last few days the course is really soft and going to play long,” Johnson said. “I like the golf course. I think it sets up very well for me.”
Johnson, one of golf ’s longest and most accurate players off the tee, was asked whether rivals might be intimidated going up against a power-hitting world number one and defending champion on the longest US Open course ever.
“I hope so, he said. “Shouldn’t it?”
Meanwhile, last year’s rules snafu that clouded the last nine holes of the US Open at Oakmont had a ripple effect on the US Golf Association (USGA), which has taken action to avoid confusion this week.
Uncertainty over a possible penalty stroke lingered over final-round leader Johnson, putting the status of the leaderboard in doubt before Johnson pulled away for an emphatic victory for his maiden major.
Changes at Erin Hills include reliance on a central group of rules officials headed by chief referee Thomas Pagel, who is empowered to make rulings, use of on-course video replay stations and adoption of local rules offering a more commonsense approach to inadvertent ball movement on the greens.
Under the new protocols, Johnson would not be subject to a penalty as he had at Oakmont, when his ball moved slightly before he addressed his putt on the fifth green of the final round. He would just remark his ball and play on.
The USGA came in for withering criticism from players and fans alike for taking so long to clear up the Johnson ruling.
Johnson officially claimed a three-stroke win, despite a onestroke penalty imposed after the round.