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Mentally Strong Johnson Wins U.S. Open

Dustin Johnson started the final round of the 116th U.S. Open four shots back of the leader Shane Lowry. He faced a challenge he had never yet accomplished: winning a major championship.

Lowry had started the day on a hot streak as he finished up his third round with two birdies over his last four holes. If Lowry had his druthers he may have wanted to keep playing right there instead of taking the seven hour break to come back for his afternoon tee time.2016 U.S. Open

As it was, he played his best golf in the morning and his worst golf when it really mattered. He bogeyed two of his first five holes and couldn’t right the ship after that.

That was enough for Johnson. He saw the opening and jumped on it. Jumped on it with his driver. He drove the ball so well. He led the field averaging 316 yards and that length and power allowed him to also lead the field in greens in regulation.

He took the lead at the Open with a birdie at nine. He then pounded the ball and hit greens while the rest of the contenders folded around him.

Along with a struggling Lowry, Sergio Garcia faded after a solid front nine 33, but three straight bogeys on the back have Sergio still looking for his first major.

Lowry’s playing partner, Andrew Landry, the qualifier and Cinderella Story felt the heat and shot a 42 on the front.

Lee Westwood who was vying to get his first major looked lost with a 43 on the front and an 80 for the round. He spent most of the day staying out of Johnson’s way.

Jim Furyk got some cheers from his Pittsburgh faithful and backdoored his way to a respectable T2 but he was never a real threat. As was Jason Day who made an eagle on twelve and birdied thirteen but started too far back in the pack to truly contend.

After Lowry’s fade, the player who posed the biggest threat was Scott Piercy who played himself into the mix with birdies on his first two holes. He was at three under par at the sixteenth hole but a bogey there and at the last dropped him back to one under.

In retrospect, Johnson’s biggest adversary, beside the buffoons at the USGA who tried to sabotage his round was none other than himself.

He had carried so much baggage, heavy major championship baggage with him today. The Whistling Straits fiasco, leading at Pebble Beach and shooting 82, the out of bounds ball at The Open Championship and his painful three putt at Chambers Bay last year are just some of the lowlights he as had to live with.

As Oakmont showed its historic teeth today the field backed up but Johnson stayed strong. Much of the golf world was waiting for that moment, that moment when Johnson self destructed. But there was no wayward drive, no botched flop shot, no ball pushed out of bounds and no three putt.

All there was were drives, long drives, very long drives. And greens in regulation…14 of 18 greens in regulation. And putts, clutch putts at thirteen, fifteen, sixteen and seventeen but none more special than the birdie putt at eighteen that ensured he was the U.S. Open winner.dj and kid

Johnson has long been the Best Player Without a Major and his prowess with the big dog had made him a nine time PGA Tour winner. But at the majors, while contending he always found a way to implode. But not today.

Not even with an Oakmont that finally saw its greens reach hyper speed. Not even having to overcome a four shot deficit. Not even with half a dozen players chomping at his spikes. Not even with the USGA playing mind games with him.

Dustin Johnson played great golf today, physical golf. But his main tool today was his steely nerve and mental strength that wasn’t broken by the threat of a penalty. Many other players would have crumbled when faced with such a dilemma. But Johnson stood strong and used not only his power game to win, but his mental game also.

With a win like this the USGA may have just “awoken a sleeping giant.”

Now Johnson knows he not only has the physical skills but the mental also.

U.S. Open - Final Round

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