US Open Tip: Dustin Johnson

The year 2010 was supposed to be the one that Dustin Johnson made his mark on the golfing world. He did just that but perhaps for the wrong reasons. US Open leader after 54 holes, a meltdown at Pebble Beach left him with a final round 82 and a major squandered. The same could be said at the PGA Championship when a rules infringement cost him the chance of a playoff.

Some would call it bad luck, others mental fragility. I prefer to look at it in a positive light; at least he was good enough to compete at the sharp end. All this narrative serves to distract from the facts, last year his record in majors was: T38-T8-T14-T5.

His form coming into the US Open is also better than last year. He warmed up with a fourth place at the Memorial, his fourth top ten of the year. A closing round 65 proved his game is right where it needs to be. Congressional is likely to be brutal, extremely long and testing, Dustin Johnson has the game to suit. He bombs it off the tee, 4th in driving distance but is also accurate with his iron play, he ranks 13th for GIRs.

At a US Open bogeys are just as easy to find as birdies and the ability to handle the ups and downs are crucial. The big hitting American is much improved in this area; he is 2nd on tour for bounce-back, the ability to follow a bogey with a birdie. Last year he ranked a lowly 76th on tour for the measure, further proof that his head is now as strong as the rest of his game.

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