Player Profile - Dustin Johnson

This week’s player profile highlights the recent career achievements of the American Dustin Johnson, whose victory at the Barclays on Saturday propelled him to the position of number four in the world.

Born in 1984 in Columbia, South Carolina, Dustin Hunter Johnson was fortunate to grow up in a state known both for its golf enthusiasts and for an excellent climate that makes golfing weather easy to come by.

Having taken a special liking to the game in his final high school years, Johnson was sufficiently skilled to embark on a successful college golf career at Coastal Carolina University. After winning the Monroe Invitational and the Northeast Amateur in 2007, the young South Carolinian must have known that good things awaited him on the professional golf circuit in North America.

Like many aspiring professional golfers, Johnson enrolled in the US PGA’s qualifying school in 2007. After finishing tied for 14th place, Johnson received his tour card for the 2008 season and set about honing his skills to compete at the highest level. Before long, his hard work and dedication would bear fruit.

In October 2008, Johnson won his first event on the US PGA Tour. Beating Australia’s Robert Allenby by a single stroke, the rookie pro lifted the trophy at the 2008 Turning Stone Resort Championship. From this point on, Dustin Johnson would show golf fans that he meant business.

Having made a strong start to his professional career in 2008, Johnson won again the following season. In an impressive final round, Johnson came out 4 strokes ahead of Canada’s Mike Weir to win the AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am. In 2010 he would repeat this victory to retain the title for a second year, this time winning by a single stroke over fellow-Americans David Duval and JB Holmes.

On Saturday, Johnson set the ball rolling at this year’s FedEx playoffs when he beat Matt Kuchar to win The Barclays.

Golfweather Editorial