HOLD ON TO HANDRAIL AND JOHNSON HAS A CHANCE

DUSTIN JOHNSON’S first requirement today is to avoid errant cats, tie his shoe laces and, for heaven’s sake, hold on to the handrail. That way he’ll be right up there among the bookmakers’ favourites for the 146th Open. These patently obvious entreaties are only necessary because Johnson fell down the stairs at his rental home in Augusta, landing so uncomfortably on his lower back and elbows that he withdrew from the Masters. He was in the form of his life at the time. Since his no-show, the world No 1 has struggled for form, including missing the cut in the US Open. But setbacks and redemption have been constant companions on Johnson’s evolution from frat-boy to the pinnacle of his sport. Failing drugs tests for recreational stimulants in 2014 only underlined the immortal line of the US sportswriter Rick Reilly, who said: ‘Dustin is so dense, light bends around him.’ But he is not a nurturer of regrets. Yesterday is history, let’s move on. On missing the Masters and his powers of psychological recovery, Johnson, 33, said: ‘It sucked. But things happen. I’ve had quite a few things happen to me. ‘I feel good. My game is starting to get back to where it was. The putter is starting to roll a little better. After the injury I spent time working on my swing and not much on my short game. But now I have a lot of confidence in my putting.’ Rain is set to lash these cruelly exposed links in the next few days. Only a smart player as well as a fine one can possibly lift the Claret Jug. It will be tough for Johnson given that the driver — his favoured weapon — is marginalised on Birkdale’s flat but narrow fairways. Nor does he have a great record in The Open. He tied for second in 2011 but otherwise last year’s US Open champion has never managed better than ninth. There will be no family distractions as Johnson prepares to tee off with Rory McIlroy and Charl Schwartzel at 2.48pm today. His fiancee Paulina Gretzky, daughter of ice hockey legend Wayne, will be home in Florida with their two sons. The latest of those, River Jones Johnson, was born last month, the younger brother of Tatum Gretzky Johnson. ‘The second one is easier than the first,’ said Johnson. ‘He’s healthy, happy. With Face Time it’s pretty easy to keep in touch online and feel almost as if you’re at home. That makes it easier, though I still miss the family. It’s part of the job.’