When Dustin Johnson teed off at the LIV Golf Singapore tournament, he did so in a bid to silence the naysayers and prove that he still has what it takes to dominate. Not only did Johnson take a solid lead at the tournament, but he also showed significant improvement in one area that has often been his Achilles heel: his putting.
Johnson, a two-time major winner, delivered a masterful performance on the green, shooting a 64 and making eight birdies. This put him three shots ahead of runner-up Sebastian Munoz, signaling a strong comeback for the former world number one.
Just a few days prior, Johnson had found himself at the very bottom of the leaderboard in Hong Kong. After a dismal performance that left him seven-over-par after the first two days, a final round six-under-par effort only nudged him within one shot of the players tied for 50th place.
However, the golfer showed his resilience, bouncing back from the disappointment and proving that he still has the talent and determination to compete at a top level. One significant factor in his improved performance seems to be his focus on addressing the long-standing issue of his putting game.
Throughout his career, Johnson has acknowledged his struggles with putting, particularly when it comes to the 20 to 30-foot range. “I’ve always struggled to get it to the hole from that distance,” he admitted. Yet, the LIV Golf Singapore saw a marked improvement in his performance on the greens, a result of his dedicated practice in this area.
“The course is in perfect condition, offering the best greens you’ll encounter all year,” stated Johnson. His diligent work on his putting paid off, with the golfer sinking two 30-footers on the par-3s.
While putts per green can sometimes be a misleading statistic, it’s worth noting that Johnson ranks 49th in this category on the LIV tour. Only five players have fared worse on the greens this season, which makes Johnson’s strong performance in Singapore all the more remarkable.
The sharp contrast in Johnson’s performance from seven-over-par in two rounds to 14-under-par in his next two across Hong Kong and Singapore tournaments is undeniable. However, some, like Smylie Kaufman, have commented on Johnson’s apparent decline, particularly given his lackluster performance in the 2024 majors where he missed two cuts.
A win at the LIV event in Singapore may not be enough to make the world of golf take notice, especially considering Johnson’s departure from the PGA Tour. However, it does serve as a reminder not to write off the 2020 Masters champion just yet. Reports of the demise of his golfing prowess, it seems, might have been somewhat premature.
