Even before being asked what advice father of two Dustin Johnson could offer to new father, Rory McIlroy the American had already highlighted the joy of parenthood.

Johnson revealed ahead of this week’s Tour Championship that it was not to 11.54pm last Sunday night when he finally arrived back to his Florida home after losing out in play-off for the BMW Championship.

And still awake, and no doubt waiting for the arrival of his father, was five-year-old and eldest son,Tatum as Johnson revealed.

“I flew home from Chicago and I pulled into my driveway I think about 11:54pm, and went upstairs and saw the kids and Paulina,” he said.

“It was nice — actually Tatum was still awake. I don’t know why he was awake, but he was still awake in the bed. But it was cool because I got to talk to him or just see him for a minute.

“I mean, as soon as I saw the kids you don’t think about anything but them and Paulina. It was nice just to see the family because I hadn’t seen them for a couple weeks, so that was a big bonus.”

And in learning, McIlroy’s wife gave birth to a daughter on Monday, and on the back of his response to an earlier question, ‘DJ’ was asked what advice he could offer McIllroy in terms of balancing parenthood with the life of a global top-ranked golfer.

 “Well, you know, for me it was really easy as before I had a family it was kind of — golf was most important, and then once you have a family, golf kind of — definitely not the most important,” he said.

“It’s your family. They’re by far the most important.

“It almost takes a little bit of stress or — I don’t really call it stress. I don’t know, it just puts things in perspective. Golf, yeah, I love golf and I enjoy it and it’s my job. Whether I played on Tour or not I’d still play the game of golf.

“But it’s one of those where once you have a family, just all your priorities change, but in a good way, in a very good way.”

Johnson heads into Friday’s start to the Tour Championship leading the FedEx Cup points table, and also under the PGA Tour points system, a two-shot leader at 10-under par over the 30-player field even before tee-off.

World No. 2 Jon Rahm, and brilliantly winner last week over Johnson in Chicago, is at eight-under while McIlroy is back in 12th place on three-under par meaning the Irishman is seven shots back of Johnson before teeing-up as he seeks to retain the FedEx Cup title.

“Being in the No. 1 position right now before we start is obviously a little bit of an advantage as you get a two-shot lead,” said Johnson.

‘But obviously, as we all know, East Lake is a difficult golf course, and there’s still four rounds to play. It’s not like I’ve got a two-shot lead going into the final round. I’ve still got four rounds to play.

“I’m still going to have to go out and play some really good golf for four days if I want to be a FedExCup champion at the end”.