Dustin Johnson rested, relaxed and raring to go in Genesis Invitational at Riviera, one of his favorite playgrounds
Think Dustin Johnson is going to kick back and ease up on the pedal?
Think again.
“I feel like I could always be better with every part of the game, but definitely can roll the putter better always,” Johnson said Wednesday after his pro-am duties for the Genesis Invitational at Riviera Country Club north of Los Angeles. “I feel like the short game, you can always improve with that, too. But I feel like I’m swinging it pretty good, I’m happy with the way I’m swinging it, but there’s room for improvement I think throughout the bag.”
Think about that. This is the approach of the No. 1 player in the world who has four wins, three runner-up finishes, a tie for sixth and a tie for 11th in his last nine starts. His most recent triumph came halfway across the world in the Saudi International two weeks ago.
In this Tigeresque stretch, he’s played just four rounds where he didn’t match or break par. He could party for a few months and still be the No. 1 player in the world, yet he will continue to put in the work. Which is the reason he’s No. 1 and will likely stay there for quite a while.
“This game is never easy. Every day something is different,” Johnson said. “Obviously, the confidence is pretty high right now. I feel good about what I’m doing, I’ve got a lot of confidence in everything that I’m doing.
“I’ve just been playing really consistent and solid golf.”
Expect that to continue at one of Johnson’s favorite playgrounds here in Tinseltown. Johnson won this tournament that is now hosted by Tiger Woods in 2017 and has eight other top-10s in 13 starts. In one six-year stretch, he finished in a tie for fourth or better five times.
He loves the challenge Riviera presents, loves the encounter against the perennially loaded field, which this year features eight of the top-10 players in the game, as well as defending champion Adam Scott, Brooks Koepka and Jordan Spieth.
“This is a big tournament, it always is,” Johnson, 36, said. “It’s always got a great field, it’s at a great venue. It’s just a really good golf course. It plays tough always, especially with the conditions this year, it’s firm and fast. And it looks like we’ve got good weather for this week so it’s going to continue to get firmer and faster.
February 16, 2019; Pacific Palisades, CA, USA; Dustin Johnson hits from the ninth hole tee box during the continuation of second-round play in the Genesis Open golf tournament at Riviera Country Club. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports
“I just like this golf course just from tee to green, everything about it. It’s a fun golf course to play. It always plays a little different depending on the wind.
“You’ve just got to be really spot on with everything you’re doing. You’ve got to drive it well, you’ve got to be really spot on with your irons and distance control, shot shapes into the green. I think it kind of makes you think on every shot you’re hitting off the tee, coming into the greens and then even when you’re on the greens, your putts, especially depending on where you’re at, if you’re downhill, the greens are really fast right now so you’ve really got to be kind of cognizant of that.”
After his win in the Middle East, Johnson withdrew from last week’s AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am, though he said if the amateurs and celebrities would have been allowed to play – especially his playing partner, Wayne Gretzky – Johnson would have headed to Pebble Beach.
But he opted for some rest and relaxation – and then went back to work. And no, despite Wednesday marking the 50th day until the Masters, where Johnson will defend his green jacket, his eye isn’t on Augusta National. It’s on Riv.
“It was just nice to be at home for the week with the kids and the family, Paulina. I had a nice week at home,” Johnson said, “And now, obviously excited to be back here at Riviera. I think it’s going to be a really good week.”
He’s had a lot of those for months now.
