…. at Dunhill Links.
Five days ago double major winning Dustin Johnson was chilled out on his loungeroom couch watching the events over the final day of the 45th Ryder Cup.
The now 41-year-old double major winner had been a member of five USA Ryder Cup sides from 2010 to 2021, including on the winning Stars-and-Stripes side in 2016 and 2021.
Though his move to LIV Golf has not seen him in the USA colours since his 1up winning match against England’s Paul Casey at the ’21 Ryder Cup at Whistling Straits.
However, after posting a 12th hole eagle and seven birdies in a sizzling 64 to be tied in fourth place after the opening day of the $5m tournament.
DJ’S @DJohnsonPGA @4AcesGC_ HUGE #USA / #UK TRANS ATLATIC MOVE ….
Off the loungeroom couch & to be T3rd day one @dunhilllinks & DJ also speaks of his 2027 @RyderCupUSA wishes
Read: https://t.co/C2baadayPl
Getty/LIV
✅ @TOURMISS pic.twitter.com/qfOeFNxUo1
— Fatiha (@TOURMISS) October 2, 2025
The trio of fellow Ameicaan Ryan Brehm, England’s Matthew Jordan (Old Course, St. Andrews) and Dutchman Darius van Driel (Kingbarns Links) lead the way with nine-under 63s.
‘DJ’ has for company of his father-in-law, the ice hockey great Wayne Gretzky.
It is DJ’s first visit to Carnoustie since the 2018 Open Championship while he’s played in the Dunhill Links on just two occasions missing the cut in 2011 and a lowly top-50 finsih a year later.
“Coming over with Wayne obviously was part of it, but I just love playing in the Dunhill”, he said.
“The last couple of years it just didn’t fall on a good time to come over schedule-wise, but this year I had some time off and it just worked out. I want to play a bit more, so I might play a few more tournaments out here next year.
“Good also to be playing here today you don’t want to be playing here when it is too windy (laughing). The other courses you can manage a little. But, no matter what, you still play good golf, especially when the breeze picks up.”
In DJ’s last Ryder Cup appearanace, and as mentioned above four years ago, he won all of five matches.
He was asked his views of the downward slike of his fellow Americans and also the uplift in European Team fortunes.
“Yes, a little bit of an American slide while Europe have made a really good comeback on Sunday to make it really interesting”, he said.’
“But, with the Europeans as far ahead as they were, the chances were very, very slim. At least they made good TV on Sunday, though.
“I was watching on my couch before I came over here. Well, I was kind of packing and getting ready for this week and went and hit some balls. But I kept a pretty close eye on it”.
No-one, of course, would have predicted the might now of the Luke Donald led Europeans winning as have back-to-back on both home and away soil and with DJ declaring how much he’d love to see his beloved compatriots get back to the top of the Ryder Cup pedestal and for DJ to again be a team memer.
“I’d love to (be again a part of the US team)”, he said.
“I just need to play a little better. But I finally feel like I have my game coming back into form. I’ve got a lot more confidence in it and I am starting to swing it well again.
“I went through about a year where I just wasn’t swinging at it very well. But I feel I am now starting to hit a lot of nice shots and feel a lot more consistent. It just wasn’t very consistent for a long time now, but the last few months have been nice.
“Of cousre, I wanted to a being a part of that USA Ryder Cup team. I wanted to be there. I just need to play a bit better and I can be there for Adare.
“I think I’d definitely get a hard look, so hopefully I will be at Adare.”
