Johnson sets pace at PGA play-off event in Boston
>> BOSTON: Dustin Johnson continued his hot streak on Friday, firing an opening round five-under-par 66 at the Dell Technologies Championship for the one-stroke lead over the starstudded PGA Tour play-off field.
World No.1 Johnson picked up where he left off last week when he won the Northern Trust event, making another roaring start in the second leg of the FedExCup Play-offs.
“When you win, you’re playing well, so it gives you a lot of confidence,” said Johnson. “For me, that was one thing that was probably lacking a little bit the last few months.
“I wasn’t seeing the shots that I wanted to see. I wasn’t hitting them consistently. So the confidence was just down a little bit.
“But you know, after last week, obviously I’ve got a lot of confidence now.”
The 33-year-old American is in good company at the top of the leaderboard as Aussie Marc Leishman, American Kyle Stanley, Jon Rahm of Spain and reigning Masters champion Sergio Garcia share second after shooting 67s.
Johnson birdied the 10th hole to begin his opening round in cool windy conditions at the TPC Boston. He converted a putt from five feet for eagle at No.18 to make the turn at four under.
Johnson won last week’s play-off opening tournament, snapping a five month winless drought which was exacerbated by a back injury. He is vying for his fifth win of the year, which would break a tie with PGA champion Justin Thomas for most on the US Tour this season.
Kevin Na, of the US, and Sweden’s Jonas Blixt are part of a group of a half dozen golfers at 68. Three-time Masters winner Phil Mickelson, South Africa’s Louis Oosthuizen and 2014 US Open runner-up Rickie Fowler are three shots off the lead after posting two-under 69s.
The postseason field is now down to the top 100 players this week. The top 70 players on the FedExCup points list after the Dell advance to the BMW Championship in Lake Forest, Illinois.