DJ’s Tour C’ship Victory Omen – Has Won Half Events When Leading After 36 Holes.

East Lake, Atlanta, GA … Here is a good omen statistic for Players Championship front-runner Dustin Johnson.

In the 10 events he’s enjoyed the 36-hole lead the reigning US Open winner has won five of those tournaments.

Johnson holds a one-stroke lead at the halfway point at the season-ending event in search of his career-best fourth win of the 2015-16 season and his first FedExCup trophy.

‘DJ’, as he is now more-affectionately known, has finished 5th and T5 in his last two starts at East Lake Golf Club (2013, 2015), and is No. 1 in the FedExCup standings after a win in his last previous start at the BMW Championship.

Dustin Johnson on route to taking the 36-hole lead in a PGA Tour event for a 10th time in his career. (Photo - PGA Tour)

Dustin Johnson on route to taking the 36-hole lead in a PGA Tour event for a 10th time in his career. (Photo – PGA Tour)

His second-round 67 marks his seventh consecutive round on the 60s, the longest active streak of players remaining from this year’s FedExCup Playoffs.

But when Johnson was asked whether he felt the game was ‘easy’ at present he responded:  ” No. The game’s never easy. I wish it was. Obviously, I’m playing good right now. I’ve got a lot of confidence in my game. I feel like — you know, every week, I feel like I bring the same game, which is nice.

“But I put in a lot of work to get to where I am, especially, like I’ve always said, I think the biggest difference is my wedge play has really improved, and I think that’s kind of made me take that next step to get to the next level.”

That level level includes Johnson’s 36-hole lead bing the 10th time in his career he’s co-lead through two rounds on the PGA TOUR, and fourth of the season.

Here, with thanks to the PGA Tour, is a look at his previous leads/co-leads after two rounds.

36-hole lead/co-lead                             Result

2010 Northern Trust Open                        T3

2010 AT&T Pebble Beach                           Won

2013 Tournament of Champions              Won

2013 WGC-HSBC Champions                   Won

2014 WGC-Cadillac Championship          T4

2015 Open Championship                          T49

2016 U.S. Open                                             Won

2016 RBC Canadian Open                          T2

2016 BMW Championship                         Won

The last player ranked No. 1 in the FedExCup standings to hold the 36-hole lead was Tiger Woods in 2009. Woods finished second at the TOUR Championship that year to Phil Mickelson, but won the FedExCup.

If he were to go on to victory, Johnson would be the first player to enter the TOUR Championship at No. 1 in the FedExCup standings and win the event since Woods in the first FedExCup Playoffs in 2007.

With three victories this season (U.S. Open, World Golf Championships-Bridgestone Invitational, BMW Championship), Johnson is joined by Jason Day, Jordan Spieth, Adam Scott and Russell Knox as one of the five players to capture multiple victories this season.

 



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