Johnson ready to play with pain at Cup
Former world number one Dustin Johnson knows his repaired left knee won't be “100 per cent” for the Presidents Cup at Royal Melbourne next month.
But the big-hitting major champion is confident he'll be absolutely ready to heap more pain on an International Team he dominated two years ago in New York.
Johnson had arthroscopic surgery just after the Tour Championship in September, an operation he also had on his right knee eight years ago.
He said he would be withdrawing from the Hero World Challenge in the Bahamas this week to complete more rehab.
But as he played a round with his brother and caddie, A.J., in Florida last week, Johnson said he would be ready and raring to go at Royal Melbourne.
“Everything is going as good as it can,” Johnson said.
“It's been 10 weeks since the surgery. I've been doing a lot of rehab, and it's going really good.
“I'm back healthy, and it's not 100 per cent, it's only been 10 weeks, but it's pretty good.”
Johnson said he hadn't made any adjustments to his swing to cater for his knee, and was confident that despite not playing an event for more than two months, he would hit Royal Melbourne ready to go.
“I've been working on my game at home. That's enough,” he said.
“I wouldn't play if I wasn't going to be ready. I've got no issues.
“It's been nice having time off, but it's forced time off, which is different than taking time off.”
Johnson was undefeated in the 2017 Presidents Cup in New York, twice teaming up with good friend Brooks Koepka (also missing the Cup through surgery) for big wins.