Redemption Sunday for Dustin Johnson

Kathy Bissell

Lemont, Il—At last.  A good Sunday for Dustin Johnson.  After disappointments at the US Open and the PGA Championship, Dustin Johnson came through in style against a strong field at the BMW Championship.

Unlike many in the field who had years of experience at Cog Hill’s Dubsdread course, Johnson said he had not played the course before.  He was determined to succeed, though.

“To finally get it done, especially after all the things I’ve been though this summer, to finally get it done on Sunday, it can’t feel any better,” he said. “I feel like I really stayed in the moment.  I didn’t get ahead of myself.”

He admitted he’d thought about the money.

“To have a shot to win it, you can’t ask for anything else,” he said.  “You definitely want to be in that top five because if you win and you’re in the top five, then you get the 10 million.”

When asked what he would do with it, Johnson said he’d just put it in the bank.

“I like seeing them zeros,” he said with a smile.

Nearly enough:  Paul Casey admitted that not being picked for Ryder Cup by Colin Montgomerie was a motivating factor in his play this week.  While he was leading part way through the final round Johnson managed one fewer mistake in the final round.

“The goal at the beginning of the week was to make the Tour Championship,” Casey said adding that he did not know he had made it into the top five. “I didn't know that. I actually didn't even think about it coming down the stretch. At least I've now got a chance to control my destiny, as they say.”

Medic:  Matt Kuchar was sick all week, and for a time it appeared that beware the injured/sick golfer rule would apply as he was in or near the lead all week.

“I really wanted to pull out of the tournament,” he said. Kuchar had seen a doctor early in the week for laryngitis and other symptoms.

However, he with his tie for third at the BMW, he still comes out on top in FedEx points.  

“I’ll actually get a chance to play East Lake a couple more times being at home,” Kuchar said about the Tour Championship course which he estimates he has played 30 or 40 times.

“There’s a history there,”  he added. “Every time I go in the clubhouse, I get goosebumps looking at all the Bobby Jones memorabilia.  It’s a fantastic place.”

Kuchar lives about 20 minutes from East Lake GC in Atlanta.

The top five going into the Tour Championship are Matt Kuchar, Dustin Johnson, Charley Hoffman, Steve Stricker, and Casey.  Any one of them is guaranteed to be the FedEx Cup winner with a victory at the Tour Championship.