Dustin Johnson's five near-misses in pursuit of a maiden major win
Last Updated: 12/08/15 2:33pm
Can Dustin Johnson end his long wait for a major victory at Whistling Straits? Here’s five times where the world No 4 has missed out on victory when in a strong position…
2010 US Open (tied-eighth)
Having already won at Pebble Beach earlier in the year at the AT&T National Pro-Am, Johnson looked in a strong position for a repeat result when he went into the final round three clear of nearest challenger Graeme McDowell.
A horror start to Sunday saw Johnson’s lead lost by the time he’d already reached the fourth tee, having ran up a triple-bogey seven at the second and a double-bogey at the next after spraying his tee-shot so far off track it couldn’t be found in time.
After missing a par-save from six feet at the fifth and posting back-to-back bogeys at 11 and 12, the American caused further damage with blemishes at the 16th and 17th. Johnson finished with a three-putt par at the par-five 18th, closing a nightmare 11-over 82 to end five adrift of eventual winner McDowell.
2010 PGA Championship (tied-fifth)
After tapping home for a play-off spot alongside Martin Kaymer and Bubba Watson, Johnson was hit with a two-shot penalty for grounding his club in a sandpit, ending his pursuit of a maiden major title.
Johnson failed to define a bunker down the 18th which had been walked through and surrounded by spectators throughout the tournament. His error of judgement proved just as costly financially, missing out on over $1million in prize money.
“I don’t know if I can describe it. It never once crossed my mind I was in a sand trap,” protested Johnson. “The only worse thing that could have happened was if I had made that putt on the last.”
2011 Open Championship (tied-second)
Johnson was among the leading contenders once again at Royal St George’s in Kent, trailing eventual winner Darren Clarke by two just strokes at the 14th.
After lengthy consultations with his caddie, the American opted for a two-iron approach in an attempt to reach the 547-yard par-five in two. However, instead of finding the green, Johnson drilled the ball out of bounds ending with a fate-sealing double bogey.
Johnson’s misjudgment proved to be another costly blunder at a major, but he vowed to learn from his mistakes: "Like I say all the time, the more I put myself in this situation, the more I learn, the more I understand my game and what happens in this situation.”
2015 US Open (tied-second)
After four years in major wilderness, Johnson was back competing at the top of the leaderboard at Chambers Bay. Unlike previous attempts, Johnson had fought his way back into contention rather than squandering a winning opportunity late on.
Initially, the 31-year-old had dropped three shots in four holes, but bounced back in style on the 17th, capitalising on Jordan Spieth’s double-bogey with a birdie.
Needing to match Spieth’s birdie at the last to force an 18-hole play-off, Johnson found the par-five green in two and had a 12-foot putt for victory, but three putted for par to finish one short.
2015 Open Championship (tied-49th)
The five previous players to win the Claret Jug at St Andrews had all turned a 36-hole lead into Open victory, but that run came to an end with Johnson after another weekend collapse.
An opening-round 65 was followed up by a 68 during the weather-affected second round to take a one-shot advantage over Danny Willett, only for the then world No 3 to quickly slide down the leaderboard by carding back-to-back 75s.
Three consecutive bogeys finished a disappointing third-round 75 and left Johnson five shots adrift heading into Monday, before five blemishes over the first eight holes in his final round ended any slim hopes.
