JOHNSON AND JOHNSON
Half-way leader says: I’m not the famous name.. others call me Dustin, they don’t call him Zach!
ZACH JOHNSON is eyeing another Open title after namesake Dustin, the world No.1, crashed out.
The 2015 Open champ holed out for birdie from distance at the last for a four-under 67 and now hopes people will stop mistaking him for his more famous compatriot (right).
That birdie left him six under in his pursuit of a second Claret Jug to add to his triumph at St Andrews three years ago.
But Dustin Johnson’s chances are already done after he shot a one-over-par 72 following his disastrous opening 76.
World No.2 and fellow American Justin Thomas is also out after carding a nightmare 77, including three successive double bogeys from the sixth to eighth holes.
While they head back across the Atlantic after missing the cut, Zach will bid to add to his impressive Open record, which includes 11 consecutive cuts and seven top-25 finishes.
Zach is the lesser known of the two Johnsons but the lowprofile American is making much more noise this week.
He admitted: “I certainly am not the No.1 player in the world that ends in ‘Johnson’. I’ve been called Dustin many times. I doubt he’s been called Zach that many times.
“Maybe some people do assume, when they see the name up there, that it’s Dustin – he has won 19 tournaments after all.
“What he’s done over the last decade is remarkable. He’s seemed to have played well regardless of geography, regardless of time of year, so you get what you deserve there.
“He’s won one Major and the odds are in his favour for another one at some point. I guess Johnson & Johnson is doing okay.”
The world No.52 hit his worst shot of the day on the first tee to open with a bogey.
But he hit back with three birdies in the next five holes and two on the back nine to secure a clubhouse lead.
Johnson is staying locally with fellow Americans Thomas, Jordan Spieth, Jimmy Walker, Jason Dufner, Rickie Fowler and Kevin Kisner this week.
He is the oldest member of the house but is thriving in the fun atmosphere, which has included football kickabouts in the back garden.
Johnson added: “I wasn’t in a fraternity in college but it kind of feels like I’m going back to my alma mater and I’m the old guy stepping into the current frat house.
“It does make the week significantly easier because I’m with buddies – I’m with guys I can feed off and vice versa.
“I think it’s never a bad thing to bond or hang out, whether you’re competing or not.”