Big-hitting Dustin Johnson intends shaking off the shackles of competing in last week’s US Open and getting among the birdies in this week’s 25th anniversary BMW International Open.
The American arrived in Munich yesterday morning (TUES) after finishing well down in 55th place with a 17-over par four round tally at Merion.
It left the current World No. 23 trailing 16 shots behind England’s Justin Rose.
American Dustin Johnson enjoying Wednesday’s BMW International Pro-Am. (Photo – Eoin Clarke/www.golffile.ie)
And while Johnson’s prestigious length off the tee was somewhat restricted in suburban Philadelphia he will not be as restricted on this week’s Munchen Eichenried on the outskirts of the Bavarian capital.
In fact, the tournament’s 72-hole record of 27-under par is held by fellow American John Daly when he captured the event in 2001.
“I struggled last week at the US Open and didn’t hit it really great, and when you’re barely just off the fairway, you get very penalised,” he said.
“So coming here this week, there’s lots of birdies, and if you drive it straight between the trees then you are going to score.
“I can reach the par fives here in two and there’s a few short par fours where you’re going to get a lot of good birdie chances.
“So it’s definitely a lot more fun to play here this week than compared to last week.”
Organisers of the US Open placed Johnson with two of the game’s other big-hittter’s in 2012 Masters champion, Bubba Watson and big-hitting Belgium Nicolas Colsaerts.
And Johnson spoke of his delight in playing alongside Colsaerts.
“Nicolas played pretty well for the first couple of days, but the golf course was just brutal and windy and it was really hard to get it in the fairway,” said Johnson.
“But I enjoyed playing alongside him.”
BMW International Open official have grouped Johnson with German golfing heartthrob, Martin Kaymer and Sweden’s Henrik Stenson teeing off tomorrow at 1.20pm local time.
