JOY FOR JOHNSON BUT IT’S THE SAME OLD STORY FOR RORY
BELIEVES DUSTIN JOHNSON COULD BE SET FOR SUSTAINED MAJOR SUCCESS AFTER CONQUERING AUGUSTA
OVERDUE SUCCESS AND MORE COULD FOLLOW
The word that keeps coming to mind when reflecting on Dustin Johnson’s magnificent Masters triumph is ‘overdue’.
It really was about time the brilliant American made his mark again when it mattered most. The world No.1 had 23 PGA Tour wins before Augusta, yet only one major to his name, the 2016 US Open.
This victory can change so much. Johnson has redressed some of that major imbalance and it could lead to a lot more.
The 36-year-old is halfway to a career Grand Slam now, with plenty of time on his side. He really could make hay in the next decade.
Johnson’s excellence did deny us one of those nail-biting finishes that have become a Masters staple, but you surely couldn’t help but be mightily impressed by him.
This was a masterclass, and for the most part it looked like an effortless one. We have a great new champion. Hats off to him.
DISAPPOINTING DEJA VU FOR RORY – AGAIN
I could honestly pretty much cut and paste my words on Rory McIlroy from the last major. And the one before that. Disappointing deja vu all over again.
McIlroy played some really lovely golf over the weekend. But again, it was too late, because he started with that ghastly 75. He was already ten shots off the lead. You can’t give players of this quality that kind of head start. Some of the best judges insist it is only a matter of time before McIlroy wins at Augusta and completes the Slam. Phil Mickelson pretty much swore by it last week.
But it will be nearly seven years since the Northern Irishman won any major when the Masters rolls around in April. So frustrating.
HOPING FOR A RETURN TO NORMALITY IN 2021
So that’s the end of the major championship year. The oddest of our lifetimes, probably. No Open
Championship at all. A US Open in September. A Masters with Christmas adverts on TV.
The thing we keep saying, and probably rightly, is we are just grateful to have seen as much bigtime golf as we have, given the desperate situation much of the world – not least the United States – still finds itself in.
Let’s just hope for a more normal programme of events in 2021, and maybe even some fans present at Augusta, Kiawah Island, Torrey Pines and Royal St George’s.
I’m just going to be a man of leisure for a couple of months. Lie by the pool a little bit, get back on the bike. Obviously watch my daughter grow up a little. But there’s certainly some stuff in my game that I want to work on before next year. My iron play hasn’t been great.’
RORY McILROY