New WGC – Cadillac champion Dustin Johnson has wasted little time throwing the gauntlet down at Rory McIlroy’s feet declaring he’s not ‘afraid’ to tackle the World No. 1 head on.
Johnson, 30 came from five shots back at the start of Sunday’s last day at Trump Doral in suburban Miami to win in his fifth tournament start this new season after mystery still surrounding a six -month self-imposed lay-off from the game.
Waiting for Johnson at the back of the final green was finacee Paulina Gretzky and their seven-week old son Tatum and with Johnson crediting becoming a father for a sharp turnaround in his game that included also losing out in a play-off a fortnight ago for the Northern Trust Open in Los Angeles.
American Dustin Johnson throws down the gauntlet at Rory McIlroy saying he’s not afraid of the World No. 1. (Photo – Fran Caffrey/www.golffile.ie)
The win in Miami was Johnson’s second straight WGC success and a ninth PGA Tour victory while the American has won at least one event a year since 2008.
And while there has been talk since last August of a rival stepping up to tackle the four-time Major winning McIlroy, Johnson insists he’s not afraid of confronting the present World No. 1.
“Clearly, Rory is a really great player and has won a couple of Majors now but then I think I can play with him,” said Johnson.
“So I’m not afraid of him and that’s for sure.
“He’s a great golfer and I think I am too, so I would really like to have the chance to come down the stretch with him and see what we’re both made of.
“He and I are really good friends and we live right across the water from each other, so I think it would be fun to take him on. I know I’m up for the challenge.”
This year will also marks the fifth anniversary of Johnson letting slip victory in the PGA Championship at Whistling Straits when his ignorance of a local bunker rule ruined an opportunity of a first Major victory.
At the time in finding a bunker well right of the 18th fairway
And while Johnson now firms as a favourite to break through for Majors glory he still harbours bitter memories of the events along the shoreline of Lake Michigan five years ago.
Whistling Straits has more than 1,000 bunkers, several of which would normally be deemed ‘waste areas’ in which a player can ground his club.
But a local rule in play during the championship, stated that all sand areas would be played as hazards.
Johnson was leading by a stroke at the time but was handed a two-stroke penalty on route to taking a bogey and missing out by a shot in competing in the eventual play-off won by Germany’s Martin Kaymer.
“I liked the course and I played well there five years ago at Whistling Straits but then I won’t be grounding my club anywhere where I shouldn’t be grounding it,” said Johnson.
“But then standing there over my second shot at 18 on that Sunday I didn’t think I was standing in a sand trap.
“There was just so much spectator rubbish in that bunker like candy wrappers, a Gatorade bottle, beer cans and all kinds of stuff including plenty of foot prints.
“Generally on a tournament golf course people should not be standing in a sand trap.
“But then I just happened to miss the memo that said all sand was deemed as a bunker.
“So shit happens, doesn’t it?”
