BEEF!!
D.J.’s path to No. 1
little corporate cautiousness. He stopped at Katz’s Deli in Manhattan on Sunday “because I can’t find a better place that does pastrami,” he says. He considers the sandwiches “unreal.”
“I’ve been two times before,” he says. “I’m a big fan of the city. I like it, man.”
Roars from the gallery at Royal Troon still echo in his ears. He remembers walking up to the first hole, absorbing cheers of his growing base and then walking toward the 18th hole. He considers what might lay ahead as Baltusrol beckons.
“I want to come away and look back in so many years and think, yeah, that’s been a great time on the golf course,” he says. “And not going, ‘Oh, yeah, well, it was good for that period of time, but we had a good laugh.’ No, it’s all about the golf.”
SPRINGFIELD, N.J. — The Great One’s future son-in-law could be skating toward becoming the world’s No. 1.
Dustin Johnson, 32, is ranked No. 2 in the world as tournament play commences at the 98th PGA Championship at Baltusrol Golf Club on Thursday, but he could supplant Jason Day atop the rankings with a major push. There are two scenarios that could lead Johnson to No. 1 for the first time in his career. One way is for Johnson to win and Day to finish worse than a twoway tie for second. Johnson can also overtake Day if Johnson finishes second by himself and Day finishes worse than 28th.
“It won’t be on my mind,” Johnson says. “I mean, I’m going to go out and try to focus on what I’ve got to do and playing golf. The rest of the stuff, I try not to worry about, or actually I don’t worry about.
“I just go out and play golf and try to shoot the best score I can. You know, if at the end of the week, if I’m on top of the leaderboard and I get to No. 1, obviously that would be great and be a big accomplishment.”
Johnson picked up his first major when he won the U.S. Open at Oakmont in June. He finished tied for second last week at the Canadian Open.
“My wedge game’s really improved,” he said. “I think that’s probably the biggest difference this year than years past, is my wedge game, it’s a lot sharper. I’ve got a lot more control with my wedges. I think that’s the big difference for me. For more fan information, go to
THURSDAY-FRIDAY FIRST HOLE-10TH HOLE
Luke Donald, England; Matt Kuchar, United States; Danny Lee, New Zealand.
Francesco Molinari, Italy; Shane Lowry, Ireland; Jim Furyk, United States.
Sergio Garcia, Spain; Jordan Spieth, United States; Bubba Watson, United States.
Danny Willett, England; Dustin Johnson, United States; Henrik Stenson, Sweden.
Graeme McDowell, Northern Ireland; Webb Simpson, United States; Louis Oosthuizen, South Africa.
THURSDAY-FRIDAY 10TH HOLE-FIRST HOLE
J.B. Holmes, United States; Brian Stuard, United States; Hideki Matsuyama, Japan.
Ernie Els, South Africa; Rickie Fowler, United States; Zach Johnson, United States.
Jimmy Walker, United States; Chris Wood, England; Branden Grace, South Africa.
— Rafa Cabrera-Bello, Spain; Justin Thomas, United States; Paul Casey, England.