Life goes on for Johnson after PGA blunder
Only days after he almost won the PGA Championship before a bunker penalty cost him the title – or at least a shot at it – Dustin Johnson’s life is settling back into normality. He is letting go the woes of the Whistling Straits debacle, and set sail off the coast of South Carolina for some much needed R&R, just about as far away from a bunker as he could get.
All day Monday Johnson’s phone was ringing off the hook; Phil Mickelson called, Camilo Villegas and Butch Harmon also phoned to praise him for his good work, and condole him on his mistake. Now he’s “just kicking it” on his boat deck, sipping back beers and relaxing out of the spotlight.
"He could have won two majors this year," said Harmon, who has been working as Johnson’s swing coach since May. Harmon was also a swing coach for Tiger Woods. "As I told him in my text, 'You proved to the golf world that you're one of the best players in the world, not just another good player.'"
And certainly this 26-year old golfer still has as bright future and career ahead of him. This upset will only make him a better player in the long run, or at least a more attentive one. And let’s not forget how Johnson arrived at the 18th hole with a one stroke lead over the competition.
At six holes left to play, Johnson was three shots behind. He kept calm, even after birdie shots on the 14th and 15th hit the lip. Then on the green at the 16th Johnson was stuck in tall grass, and hit a sand wedge to two feet for birdie. He was tied for the lead after that blind shot, and took the lead on the 17th hole with a 12-foot putt for birdie.
Even though he didn’t win a major this year, Johnson appeared in the final group of not one but two majors this season. In the past ten years only three other players can say they’ve appeared in the final groups at a major and not won, and they are David Duval in 2000, Mickelson in 2001, and Ernie Els in 2004.
So Johnson can add his name to a list of impressive players, and Johnson will bounce back from this and come out strong. Harmon knows that Johnson will bounce back, because that’s what he does, "Look how he's moved on from Pebble," Harmon said. "He's very resilient. He has an incredible demeanour to handle these things."
At the U.S. Open two months ago, Johnson had a three shot lead after 54 holes, but threw it away with a triple bogey on the second hole. Johnson then dropped more shots trying to make up for his mistake. At the day’s end he carded 82, missing out on his first real chance at a major.
Everyone wanted to know how long it took Johnson to recover from the blow, but according to him one day was all it took.
“It doesn't bother me if people ask," Johnson said."I just don't get why somebody wouldn't believe me when I say I'm over it. You have to go forward. In every sport, you have to go forward."
The only thing Johnson gets out of reliving the past is learning from his mistakes. And now that he has two big examples of what not to do, he’s ready to get back out there and try again because that is all he can do.
"Monday after Pebble, I remember sitting around thinking, 'I've got to get better. I've got to figure out a way to get it done in that situation.' Obviously, I did that. I proved that Sunday," said Johnson. "The experience at Pebble helped me so much on Sunday. I knew what to expect. I knew I would make mistakes because it's going to happen. I knew I would still have plenty of holes to play."
So what did Johnson say on Monday after the PGA?
“The first thing is what happened on 18," he said. "Then after that, I got to thinking about everything good that came out of that. I did play very well coming down the stretch, and I'm proud of that."
After he was informed that his two stoke penalty would take him out of the playoff Johnson packed it in early, arriving at the airport in time to see Martin Kaymer win the three-hole rally. He said it was hard to watch and had wondered how he would have done. "I'm not trying to blame anyone else," he said, knowing right well that he had broken a rule. "It's no one's fault but mine."
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