The world number two, Dustin Johnson, was in fine form to kick off the 2016 RBC Canadian Open. The current leader in FedEx Cup points (with 2493 —141 ahead of second place Jason Day) went into the clubhouse at six under par. He shares the lead with Luke List who went off earlier in the day.
Dustin Johnson First Round Leader at Canadian Open
On a day that most golfers noted difficulty with controlling the ball, Johnson was mostly steady and stable. With very dry and, sometimes, windy conditions, the 32-year-old was poised, finding most fairways, keeping the ball in playable positions.
“My game feels good,” Johnson said. “I’ve got a lot of confidence in it. I feel like I’m swinging really well. I felt like I rolled the ball really nicely with the putter today. I’m definitely driving the ball nicely. I’ve got a lot of confidence in the driver. I feel like I can hit it in the fairway.”
Johnson had his short game working for him most of the day. After a beautiful approach that left him with seven feet to the hole, he clinically drained the putt.
His back nine began with a bang. After sending his tee shot way off course —40 yards, in fact — he drew a boisterous response when his approach hit the pin, resting two feet away. He tapped in the easy putt.
And then on the next hole, he landed a beautiful approach from 98 yards out. Eleven feet from the pin, he made his putt again.
Johnson put the ball into the water on the 14th hole, and made double bogey. However, as quickly as the U.S. Open champion gave the rest of the field hope, he would take it right back. He would make birdie on 16, and drain a ten foot poot for eagle on 18; to finish his round with a 6-under 66.
“I drove it in the fairway a bunch. That was definitely very helpful,” Johnson said. “The conditions were tough. The wind was blowing pretty hard. I felt like I played really well. I just made one bad swing on 14, just didn’t quite commit to the shot I was hitting. Then I got a little unlucky for it to go in the water there. But other than that, I thought I played really, really nicely all day long.”
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