Johnson win streak at 13 years
Dustin Johnson broke out of a slump – for him anyway – to shoot 3under-par 67 on Sunday and win the Travelers Championship by two strokes over Kevin Streelman.
Johnson’s latest triumph extended his streak to at least one victory on the PGA Tour for 13 consecutive years, and his 21st career title ties him with World Golf Hall of Famers Davis Love III and Lanny Wadkins.
“It was a long time between wins,” Johnson said of his drought that lasted all of 20 events. “Hopefully it won’t be as long until the next one.”
Johnson, 36, a former World No. 1, entered the week No. 6, the first time he had dropped out of the top 5 since winning the 2016 U.S. Open. He didn’t finish in the top 10 in his final eight events of the 2018-19 season and had surgery to repair cartilage damage in his left knee in September. He returned for the Presidents Cup in December, but his game looked rusty and Johnson conceded that he tweaked his knee and required an MRI that revealed a strained tendon. The tour’s 91-day suspension of play due to the global pandemic came at a good time for Johnson, who hadn’t recorded a top-5 finish since a runner-up at the PGA Championship last May.
Johnson struggled to 1-over par through his first 12 holes Thursday at TPC River Highlands in Cromwell, Connecticut. That’s when he ran off a stretch of 17 under over his next 42 holes, including 9-under 61 Saturday. He entered the final round trailing 54-hole leader Brendon Todd by two strokes.
Johnson, known as one of the longest and most accurate drivers, got a lift from a new putter. He entered the week ranked 134th in Strokes Gained: Putting this season. In the final round, he rolled in short birdie putts at Nos. 4 and 5 to tie Todd but surrendered his share with a bogey at the seventh. Johnson then birdied a 27 foot-sidewinder at eight, a 9-footer at nine and a 24-foot putt from off the green at 10. Todd played 50 holes without a bogey until a triple bogey at 12 and he closed with 75. Johnson made two pars coming home to finish at 19under 261, holding off Streelman, who shot a bogey-free 67.
Asked if he has ever played an entire season of bad golf, anywhere, Johnson said, “I don’t think so. And I hope I don’t start anytime soon.”