Dustin Johnson can take leap toward greatness at Augusta National

 

AUGUSTA, Ga. – Dustin Johnson has undoubtedly had a good golf career for a player who is still just 30 years old.

 

"Good" is how he characterized it Tuesday at Augusta National Golf Club.

 

He has won nine times in now his eighth year on the PGA Tour – at least once in each season to join Tiger Woods, Jack Nicklaus and Arnold Palmer as the only players who have won in each of their first eight seasons in the past 60 years.

 

His presence in that category with the three legends is one reason many believe Johnson could have and should have done more, and has squandered some of his talent to this point in his career. Johnson is among them.

 

He believes he can bump that career description into the realm of "great."

 

"I think I've done OK. I think it's good. You know, it hasn't been great yet," Johnson said. "But I mean, for right now, I think I've had a good career. But eventually I want to say I've had a great career."

 

Does he feel like he's on the verge of greatness soon?

 

"Yeah, I think it's getting close," Johnson said.

 

One giant step toward achieving greatness in the sport would be earning his first major title, and the Coastal Carolina University alumnus appears to be prepared on and off the course for the moment as he begins his sixth Masters Tournament on Thursday.

 

Wanting a great career is among the primary reasons Johnson faced "personal challenges" that included excessive drinking head on in a six-month break from the tour into February.

 

He came out of the hiatus a first-time father, soon-to-be husband and person who professes to be more mature, dedicated and comfortable with his life, and his game has never looked better. In his past five events, Johnson has four top-six finishes including a win and playoff runner-up.

 

"I definitely feel different," Johnson said. "I'm a father now, so that's been the best thing that's happened this year. You know, couldn't be in a better place right now in my life. I feel like my golf game's really good. My personal life's doing great. Yeah, I definitely feel different."

 

It has been apparent on the course. After missing the cut in his return to the tour at the Farmers Insurance Open, Johnson tied for fourth at Pebble Beach and lost in a playoff to James Hahn in the Northern Trust Open. After a missed cut in the Honda Classic, he won his second career World Golf Championship title at the WGC-Cadillac Championship and tied for sixth in his last start at the Valero Texas Open despite an opening 78 in terrible conditions.

 

"Pretty much every start I've contended, so I feel like my game is really good right now," Johnson said. "I think everything's pretty good. I really feel like I can control my irons very well. I feel like I'm driving the ball a little bit straighter. I'm real confident in my pitching and chipping, and then also I feel good with the putter right now. I feel comfortable on these greens. I think I've got the speed down pretty good."

 

Johnson has had legitimate chances to win the other three majors at least once, but his best finish at Augusta is a tie for 13th in 2013. He failed to finish inside the top 30 in his first three visits and missed the cut last year.

 

His lack of success at Augusta National is as befuddling to him as it is to anyone else.

 

"I've contended in all the other [majors], just not here," Johnson said. "To me, this one sets up the best for me. The golf course, I feel like sets up very well for me. I just haven't really put it all together. So, I mean, I really can't explain it. I feel like I should play well here."

 

An inability to master Augusta's greens appears to have kept Johnson from contending.

 

In his Masters career, Johnson has been impressive from tee to green. He led the field in greens hit in regulation in each of his first two appearances, and didn't finish worse than seventh in the category in the four cuts he made.

 

But he needed at least 120 putts for an average of 30 or more per round in his first three appearances before cutting the number to 111 in 2013 when he tied for 13th and ranked fourth in the field in putts per round.

 

"It's just a place where you've got to have everything working that week," Johnson said. "You've got to be driving it well. You've got to hit your irons well. You've got to putt and chip well.

 

"... I definitely feel the most confident in my game so far coming in this week than I have in years past, where I feel like everything's working fairly good right now. I'm definitely playing a lot more consistent and more solid coming in here."

 

Johnson continues to get more familiar and comfortable with the course. He visited Augusta National for practice last Tuesday and Wednesday, returned Sunday afternoon and played nine holes Monday and 18 on Tuesday.

 

Tuesday's practice round consisted of a match between Johnson and teammate Brandt Snedeker against Phil Mickelson and Rickie Fowler. Johnson and Snedeker prevailed when Mickelson three-putted the 18th green, according to Johnson, who said the practice round matches help him prepare mentally for the tournament.

 

"It just helps because you know you put a little pressure on yourself," Johnson said. "It's only Tuesday, but ... when you've got a little pressure and you need to hit a shot, just to see how you're swinging and kind of simulate a little bit of tournament play just to see what you need to work on either later that day or on Wednesday."

 

Johnson's fiancee Paulina Gretzky, 2 1/2-month old son Tatum, and prospective in-laws Wayne and Janet Gretzky are all expected to be in Augusta this week. So like at the WGC-Cadillac Championship last month, Tatum and Paulina will be there for an embrace if Johnson walks off the 18th green victorious.

 

It would be a moment and further reminder of the changes in his life over the past eight months that he hopes will lead to greatness.

 

This article was written by Alan Blondin from The Sun News and was legally licensed through the NewsCred publisher network.