The Heart of a Champion
Dustin Johnson’s struggle for success
On the final hole of the 2010 PGA Championship, Dustin Johnson had a one-shot lead. It seemed as though Johnson was about to win his first major at a young age of 26. He appeared to bogey the final hole, which put him in a playoff with Bubba Watson and Martin Kaymer. However, he grounded his club in a bunker unknowingly, which cost him a two stroke penalty and dropped him back to fifth place. This was the first of many hardships Johnson would face in his golf career.
On July 31, 2014, Johnson announced that he would be taking a leave of absence from golf to solve some personal issues. Fans around the world were stunned and confused why a man at the peak of his career would quit for the time being. Reports then began to flood the sports world that he was taking a leave of absence because he had a drug problem with cocaine. Many believed that DJ was suspended by the PGA because he had just testing positive for cocaine making it his third failed drug test. Critics labeled Johnson as “a man with concrete for a brain” due to his drug abuse. Johnson tested positive for marijuana in 2009, cocaine in 2012 and 2014. A few days after he announced his break from golf, the PGA announced that they did not suspend him and that the decision was strictly his. After extensive rehab, he was able to come back the next season. The decision to leave the game of golf for six months turned out to become the best decision he has made during his successful career.
After a half of a year off from playing competitive golf on the PGA tour, people wondered if he would be just as successful as he was before. In his first tournament back, he missed the cut by just one stroke. This led to even more speculation as fans around the world believed that his drug abuse was going to ruin his career. He then proved the world wrong as he bounced back with two straight top-five finishes. These two tournaments brought him back into the top 15 in the world. The 2015 season would be another year in which Dustin finished close to the top but could not get that major victory to make him into an elite golfer.
At the U.S. Open in 2015, Johnson was one putt away from being a major champion. Elite golfer Jordan Spieth was only one shot ahead as DJ walked to the 18th tee. After an amazing tee shot and second shot to reach the green, Johnson had a putt for eagle from 12 feet to win. DJ hit the putt well, but it missed by a couple of inches and rolled a few feet past the hole. With an easy putt left, fans assumed that there would be a playoff between him and Spieth. DJ missed the 3-footer to give the title to Spieth and finish runner up yet in another major. Once again Johnson missed a great opportunity to get over the hump. Speculation on whether he would ever win a major began to rise around the sports world.
Johnson was ready to silence all the criticism he had received over his career. After many tries, Dustin was tired of getting so close but not winning. DJ started off the 2016 season well and continued his good play into the 2016 U.S. Open. DJ once again had a lead in the final round of a major championship. Even with the lead being comfortable, he faced adversity during the round. On the fifth hole, people observed the ball slightly roll before Dustin hit the ball. This resulted in discussions by the USGA on a ruling to give Johnson a 2-stroke penalty. He had to play the rest of his round wondering if he would receive a penalty. DJ zoned out the pressure of the penalty and keep playing well. Most people will stress and fall apart after they are faced with a penalty like he was. Johnson had the ability to strive under the circumstances which brought him to the top. His determination led him to become the 2016 U.S. Open champion. He finally overcame the hump and labeled himself as an elite golfer.
Dustin Johnson established a reputation of a determinate person on and off the course. After repeated times of adversity, Johnson made wise decisions that led him to where he wanted to be as a player and a man. Overcoming drug abuse can be one of the most difficult things to ever do. DJ overcame it, and become better on and off the course a result. Now, Dustin Johnson, a clean man, is the number one player in the world.
