Dustin Johnson shows major class to ‘battle back’ from quadruple bogey at US Open
Dustin Johnson’s comeback after making a damaging quadruple bogey on day two of the US Open reminded us all he’s back at the major party and here to stay
Dustin Johnson might not be top of the 2023 US Open leaderboard, but his opponents can count themselves lucky.
If it wasn’t for an extraordinary quadruple bogey on the 2nd hole in the second round, DJ would be in the thick of contention to complete a career major hat-trick.
He found the fairway bunker from the tee, but after splashing out into the rough, he then chunked his third shot into the infamous barranca and a big number was on the cards (quite literally).
His 8 took him back to 2-under-par and six shots behind the record-breaking marks set by previous Ryder Cup teammates Rickie Fowler and Xander Schauffele at Los Angeles Country Club.
But after this calamity, Johnson showed the class and quality that saw him win two major championships, 24 PGA Tour titles and spend 139 weeks at the top of the world rankings.
He made five birdies after that, and another bogey, to get back to 6-under. He can have regrets, but he is well-placed to challenge for his second US Open title.
The barranca bites back.
— U.S. Open (USGA) (@usopengolf) June 16, 2023
Dustin Johnson cards a quad on No. 2. #USOpen pic.twitter.com/naWYKQETQZ
Johnson spoke about his 2nd-hole disaster and alluded to something any golfer could learn from when having a bad hole:
“Just think about hitting the fairway on hole 3. Obviously, I’ve still got a lot of golf holes, and it could have easily gone the other way after hole 2.
“But yeah, obviously came right back and hit a couple of good shots on hole 3 and made a nice putt to make a birdie there. (I) played really nicely all day. Still missed a few good looks at birdie.
“I had quite a few good looks at birdie that I didn’t make, and lipped out a couple. (I) really feel like I’m swinging it really well, driving it good, so looking forward to this weekend.”
Having joined LIV Golf last June, becoming one of the Saudi-financed league’s biggest recruitments, Johnson has a much lighter schedule away from the PGA Tour.
Despite winning twice on the rebel league, you could argue it is hard to gauge his form compared to those who still play the traditional schedule on the US circuit.
On the most recent episode of the NCG podcast: The Slam, I myself questioned what to make of Johnson’s chances this week, now that he plays in reduced field and reduced hole events.
This is a mistake I won’t make again.
As he said in his post-round interview on Friday, he’s in a great place with his game and Johnson is a dangerous force when full of confidence and free-flowing at a major championship.
Had he just made a par on the 2nd hole, or even a bogey, he would’ve joined the Wyndham Clark at the top of the leaderboard. Clark set an early mark in the clubhouse of 9-under before Fowler and Schauffele got underway.
Quite frankly, it appears Johnson is no less the beast he once was when regularly appearing on our television screens on Sunday evenings on the PGA Tour.
“You want to get off to a good start, and didn’t do that,” he added. “But making a quad on hole 2 definitely didn’t get the day started off how I envisioned it starting today.
“But to battle back and get it back to even par for the day and 6-under for the tournament, so still right in the mix going into the weekend – definitely proud of the way I came back and finished off the round.”
With Rory McIlroy finishing on 8-under, and with Fowler and Schauffele still to show their hands at this stage, we are in for an exciting weekend at LACC.
We’ve just been reminded a major tournament with Dustin Johnson on the prowl increases the excitement ten-fold.
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Matt Chivers
Now on the wrong side of 25, Matt has been playing golf since the age of 13 and was largely inspired to take up the game by countless family members who played golf during his childhood.
Matt is a member at Royal Cinque Ports in Deal playing off a 5 handicap, just a pitching wedge away from his hometown of Dover where he went to school and grew up. He has previously been a member at Etchinghill and Walmer and Kingsdown in Kent.
Having studied history at the University of Liverpool, Matt went on to pass his NCTJ Exams in Manchester a year later to fulfil his lifelong ambition of becoming a journalist. He picked up work experience along the way at places such as the Racing Post, the Independent, Sportsbeat and the Lancashire Evening Post.
Matt joined NCG in February 2023 and is the website’s main source of tour news, features and opinion. He has reported live from events such as The Open, the Ryder Cup and The Players Championship, having also interviewed and spent time with some of the biggest names in the sport.
Consuming tour golf on what is a 24/7 basis, you can come to Matt for informed views on the game and the latest updates on the PGA Tour, DP World Tour, LPGA Tour, Ladies European Tour and LIV Golf.
What’s in Matt’s bag: Cobra LTDx LS driver, Cobra LTDx 3-wood, TaylorMade P7MC irons, Ping Glide 4.0 wedges, Odyssey putter.
