It didn’t quite have the same earth-shattering ramifications as Tiger Woods’ infamous clatter into that fire hydrant but Dustin Johnson’s tumble down some stairs earned another fairly innocuous, man-made construction worldwide notoriety. You half expected said stairs to be interviewed on a US chat show.
When Johnson slipped on those steps of his rented house in Augusta in the build up to April’s Masters, and eventually withdrew from the opening Major of the men’s season with a back injury, you could almost hear the screeching and creaking of the momentum coming to a shuddering halt.
Johnson, the world No 1, had won three events in a row heading into the Masters and most folk already had him measured up for the cherished green jacket.
It wasn’t to be and since that sore one in Georgia, Johnson has been trying to rediscover that imperious form of early 2017. An early exit from the US Open at Erin Hills last month did little to raise morale. Along with the upwardly mobile Jon Rahm, Johnson remains a favourite for success in the Open at Royal Birkdale but this unpredictable game has never been played on a betting slip.
“It’s been difficult for him because he was playing the best he had ever played in his life going into the Masters,” said his coach, Butch Harmon. “He was ready for the event he was excited to play and then ‘boom’ a freak accident. He had reached the No 1 spot in the world, which was always his goal so it was difficult both physically and mentally. That [injury] set him back and here we are in July and he’s still recovering from that. I will say now, though, that the last time I talked to him before he went overseas he didn’t have any pain so that’s good.
“It was very unusual for him to miss the cut in the US Open and he played fairly well from tee to green but he putted terribly. But that’s OK, that’s just one of those things. He still wasn’t 100 per cent at Erin Hills, he still had a little hesitation in his swing from his injury which he doesn’t have any more. I think Dustin just needs to get some repetitions in and get his nerves settled again and he’ll be fine. At the US Open he said he felt fine but there was still the anticipation that when he swung at it hard was it going to hurt. Now he’s over all those fears and let’s hope he gets back to being DJ.”
Johnson, 33, has been limbering up for Birkdale with some links golf in Ireland as he looks to bolster an Open cv that includes three top-10s in eight appearances.
“Dustin loves the Open,” Harmon added. “He likes links golf, he likes the challenge and he’s learned how to play on the ground.”
After that mishap on the stairs at Augusta, staying on the ground may be the safest option for Johnson in Southport. Maybe he’s renting a bungalow this time?
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