Dustin Johnson Reaches 3 Under at US Open With 7th Birdie

Q: Why is Dustin Johnson, a 200-1 long shot, suddenly a top contender at the U.S. Open?

Dustin Johnson is a contender because he has paired a vintage opening round with signs that his game has recently improved, and he also caught favorable conditions at Shinnecock. The immediate reason is his play. Johnson surged with four straight birdies late Thursday, added another birdie Friday morning for seven in the round, and moved to three under par. Reports from the course said he was driving it powerfully and accurately, including hitting his first 11 fairways, which is critical in a U.S. Open setup. That kind of ball-striking is what made him a major champion in 2016 and 2020. His run is surprising because the broader record still explains the 200-1 odds. He is 41, his world ranking has fallen sharply, and he has missed six cuts in his last 11 major starts. Since joining LIV, he has often been an afterthought in majors, and his U.S. Open exemption from the 2016 win expires after this year. But there were warning signs that he might be better than the odds suggested. Johnson had just posted his two best LIV finishes of the season, including a strong close in Korea, and had said his driving and putting were improving over the past six months. That recent uptick, combined with his major pedigree and comfort in U.S. Open conditions, made him dangerous if he found momentum. He is suddenly a top contender because his form this week looks real, and because a player with Johnson’s ceiling does not need much to reappear near the top.

Q: With his tour collapsing and exemption ending, is this Dustin Johnson's last chance at major glory?

Probably not his last chance, but it may be one of his last realistic ones outside Augusta. Johnson’s surge at Shinnecock matters because the window is narrowing. He is 41, has missed six cuts in his last 11 majors, and his world ranking has fallen to No. 468. He was a 200-1 outsider this week, so this start is a genuine surprise even if recent LIV finishes hinted at better form. The pressure comes from access as much as form. His 10-year U.S. Open exemption from winning Oakmont in 2016 ends after this championship. He already needed a special invitation for the PGA Championship, and he is not currently exempt for The Open. If LIV Golf does shrink or collapse after 2026, as now appears possible after the Saudi PIF said it will stop funding the league beyond this season, Johnson’s route into majors could become much harder because he is not earning ranking points in a way that keeps him safely qualified. That said, “last chance” goes too far. As the 2020 Masters champion, Johnson has a lifetime invitation to Augusta, so he will continue to have at least one major start available every year. He could also still receive special invitations elsewhere or qualify through sectional and final qualifying if his game revives. So this is not his final shot at major glory in an absolute sense. But given his age, recent major record, expiring U.S. Open exemption and LIV’s uncertain future, it is fair to say this may be one of his last strong chances to contend broadly across the majors.

3 articles · Updated · BBC.com · Jun 19

Three-under-par Dustin Johnson added a seventh birdie Friday morning to keep building on an unexpectedly strong first round at the US Open.
Four straight birdies earlier in the round drove the surge for the 2016 champion, who had missed six cuts in his last 11 majors before this week.
Gary Woodland, another former US Open winner, also birdied Friday morning and stayed near the top of the leaderboard.
Late starters from Thursday appeared to benefit from favorable conditions, helping fuel the early challenge from Johnson and others.