Top 30 Players to Watch in 2019: No. 4 Dustin Johnson

OVERVIEW What a phenomenon Dustin Johnson has become. He’s now up to 19 PGA TOUR titles after another three-win season and if you expect he won’t reach at least 20 in 2019, then we’d love to sell you a bridge. With at least one victory in every full season he’s played on the PGA TOUR, Johnson is a sure-fire contender every time he tees it up. An incredible 10 wins have come in the last three seasons, and he also chalked up his first major, leaving him with one more clear goal … a FedExCup. For 10 straight seasons Johnson has made it through to East Lake but failed to go home with the season-long trophy. He’s had his destiny in his own hands for the last three seasons but has been unable to convert. And so this remains on his radar. He also wants more majors. He might not come out and say things directly. He might make you try to believe he doesn’t really care that much. But don’t be fooled. Johnson wants to win. And he wants to win often. He started last season saying an eight-win season is still an attainable goal despite the last one coming from Tiger Woods in 2006. Lofty hopes ensure his motivation remains high. He also has had to watch as gym partner Brooks Koepka has captured three majors in two years – further motivation. In his last five seasons on TOUR, DJ has ranked sixth, fifth, first, seventh and first in scoring average … incredible stuff. He is far from just a bomber – with his wedge game one of the deadliest in the world to go with his bashing efforts off the tee. Oh – and those who claimed he still can’t putt that well? He was 25th in Strokes Gained: Putting last season. — By Ben Everill Click here to see who else made the Top 30 list. BY THE NUMBERS FEDEXCUP UPDATE Current 2018-19 position: 146th Playoff appearances: 10 TOUR Championship appearances: 10 Best FedExCup result: 2nd in the 2015-16 season SHOTLINK FUN FACT Since the start of the 2015-16 PGA TOUR season, Dustin Johnson has won 16 percent of all his starts (10 of 63) and has finished inside the top 10 in 56 percent of his starts in that span. INSIDER INSIGHTS PGATOUR.COM’s Insiders offer their expert views on what to expect from Dustin Johnson in 2019. TOUR INSIDER: It is pretty tough to find a weakness in Johnson’s game both statistically and mentally. His worst ranking in the five main Strokes Gained metrics was 33rd last season and he led in two of them. His memory is short – meaning when he does have a bad day, he can let it go quickly and move on without scars. — By Ben Everill FANTASY INSIDER: You don’t need me or my analysis on this one. My only advice would be to remind you to set a lineup with him in it before any deadline. Rips off at least one win per season – that’s harder than he makes it appear – and has totaled 10 in the last three. All that’s missing on the résumé that can be achieved this season is a FedExCup title. The gold medal in the Olympics, should he happen to qualify, will have to wait until 2020. — By Rob Bolton EQUIPMENT INSIDER: DJ was playing a TaylorMade Spider Tour Black for a while, and it seemed to be his answer on the greens. That is no longer. At the tail end of 2018, Dustin was switching between TaylorMade and Scotty Cameron putters, blade and mallet style, insert and no insert, and conventional and cross-handed. Most recently, Dustin was spotted using a TaylorMade Black Copper blade-style putter with a red Surlyn insert, but with his propensity to switch putters on a whim, nothing is certain for 2019. Also, it seemed prior to 2018 that Dustin Johnson would never switch from his Fujikura Speeder 661 Evolution II Tour spec shaft. But ahead of the 2018 U.S. Open, he switched into a Project X HZRDUS Black 85-gram shaft. He’s since switched back to the Speeder, but it’s something to keep an eye on in 2019. — By Andrew Tursky STYLE INSIDER: DJ has elevated his style game over the past two years and it all started with a better understanding of modern fits. His pants feature a slight taper below the knee and are hemmed to just sweep the tops of his shoes. This gives his signature monochromatic kits a smooth and streamlined look. — By Greg Monteforte

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