Dustin Johnson’s dad life is all about fishing, exploring and generally being present
(Editor’s note: This is Part IV in a seven-part series on the life and career of reigning Masters champion Dustin Johnson. Check back to Golfweek.com each day for the next part of the story.)
Dustin Johnson reached golf’s nirvana when Tiger Woods helped him slip on a size-42 long green jacket last November.
It was a fitting scene for Johnson’s record-smashing victory in the 2020 Masters.
A few hours later, his day got even better.
In the massive rental home a short distance from Augusta National Golf Club, family and friends, including fiancée Paulina Gretzky as well as Wayne and Janet Gretzky, began celebrating the triumph. Shortly into the merriment, the two shortest residents stole the show as Johnson’s sons, Tatum, 6, and River, 3, each put on golf’s most coveted garment.
“That was so great, the best. I don’t think I’ve ever been happier (than to) see their reaction to the green jacket,” Johnson said. “They love the green jacket. They were really excited and they were super proud.
“They tell everybody that daddy won the green jacket.”
Johnson met The Great One’s daughter in 2013 and he proposed six months later. A few months after that, Johnson took a six-month sabbatical from professional golf to deal with “personal challenges.”
Helping him on his new path in life were the births of Tatum in January 2015 and River in June 2017. The instant Tatum came into the world, Johnson changed. An overwhelming sense of transformation, love, responsibility and purpose took hold.
“Oh, wow, the kids mean everything in the world to me,” said Johnson, who, as a teen, endured his parents’ bitter divorce. “It’s been absolutely amazing being a father. You have no idea how great it is. You think you know before you have kids, but you have no idea until you become a father. It’s just amazing.”
Since he returned from his leave of absence, Johnson became No. 1 in the world and won 17 tournaments worldwide, including a major for each of his sons.
“Dustin never came across to me that he would be super excited about anything, but when Tatum came into the world, it completely matured Dustin in a second,” said Johnson’s trainer, Joey Diovisalvi. “People say you’ll never know the feeling of becoming a father until it happens to you, and that happened to him in a very powerful way.
“Watching him raise two boys who are very much like him, and seeing him beyond being overjoyed, is special. He’s beyond committed. He explores things with those boys and they are not sheltered. The beauty about Dustin is everything in his life is about simplicity. He’s not on a clock. Whatever they want to do, he goes and hangs out with the boys.”
By every measure, Paulina is Johnson’s equal as a parent, her impact on both her fiancé and sons immeasurable.
“Paulina grew up very much in the microscope of the first child of The Great One,” said David Winkle, Johnson’s agent. “She’s very accustomed to being in the family of a professional athlete and being in the spotlight and that helps because she understands what Dustin goes through.
“She loves the boys. She’s a great mother. There is nothing Dustin would rather do than hang with Paulina and those little boys.”
In turn, the boys make Johnson a better golfer. Wayne Gretzky said Johnson’s duty to his sons altered his everyday schedule for the better.
“Fatherhood changes all of us. What it does is it takes away that sort of free time you have, whatever age you are, because you have that commitment when you wake up in the morning,” the hockey icon said. “In Dustin’s case, he knows he has to practice, work out, put in his time for golf, and then he has family time and he loves family time. From what I’ve seen, the birth of his children got him really centered on a schedule that he was not only committed to his golf but he was committed to getting his kids ready for school, taking them to school, being a father and all that entails.
“One of the greatest thrills in his life is taking his boys fishing. He grew up fishing with his father, grandfather, brother, and I think he is truly at peace in those moments he has with his boys.”
Or as Johnson will tell you, he loves nothing more than gathering up the rods and reels and the two boys.
“They love going on the boat so we fish a lot. The first time they caught a fish, to see their excitement on their faces, that was so great,” Johnson said. “And when I saw how much they love to fish, well, I can pretty much fish whenever I want to now. I just say, ‘I’m taking the boys fishing.’
“And they love going to the golf course and hitting golf balls. Or whether we’re just playing around the house, it’s great being with them. They definitely keep you busy. But it’s fun and I wouldn’t change anything for the world.”
