No player has ever captured a U.S. Open after winning the previous week on the PGA Tour. That strange-but-true fact did not concern Dustin Johnson on Sunday in the St. Jude Classic. He was tending to more important business — getting his can’t-miss career back on track.
After missing three months with a bad back, 2012 was starting to look like a lost year for Johnson. He appeared in danger of surrendering his spot on the Ryder Cup team, in addition to his reputation as America’s best young player.
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But that all changed Sunday as Johnson made two birdies on the last three holes to win the St. Jude Classic.
The timing couldn’t be better, despite the history of past players who have won the week leading into the U.S. Open.
“I wasn’t worried about the Open today,” Johnson told reporters. “I was worried about winning the [St. Jude]. Next is a whole different week.”
Even as he has risen in the sport, questionable judgment has been the rub against Johnson, on and off the course. His most recent injury came the week before the Masters as he was lifting a jet ski out of water.
With his win in Memphis, however, Johnson, 27, has more PGA victories (six) than any player in the world still in his 20s. He also is the first player since Tiger Woods to get at least one win in each of his first five years out of college.
Now, is he fit for a major?
– Kevin Dunleavy
