10 Facts About Dustin Johnson
10 facts about American professional golfer Dustin Johnson.
Transcript
00:00 Dustin Johnson is one of the most successful golfers of his generation.
00:03 Since turning professional, he's been one of the most decorated players on tour.
00:08 Let's get to know him a little bit better here with 10 interesting facts.
00:11 First up, did you know that Dustin Johnson has won a PGA
00:16 Tour event in each of his first 13 seasons?
00:19 Jack Nicklaus currently holds the record, though, at 17.
00:22 He was born in Columbia, South Carolina, and now lives in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida.
00:28 He played his collegiate golf at Coastal Carolina University,
00:31 where he majored in sports management.
00:33 Johnson turned professional in late 2007 and earned his PGA
00:37 Tour card after finishing in a tie for 14th place at Kew School.
00:41 He won his first ever event in his rookie season,
00:44 which was the Turning Stone Resort Championship in upstate New York.
00:48 Johnson is married to Paulina Gretzky, the daughter of Canadian ice hockey
00:52 legend Wayne Gretzky.
00:54 Together, Dustin and Paulina have two children, Tatum and River.
00:58 As of the end of 2021, Johnson sits third on the PGA Tour career money list
01:03 with $73 million in career earnings.
01:07 Only Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson are ahead of him.
01:10 He has a total of 24 wins on the PGA Tour, which includes two majors,
01:15 the 2020 Masters and the 2016 US Open.
01:19 This number also includes six World Golf Championships.
01:23 Johnson's dad is a former club pro and took Dustin to start playing golf
01:27 when he was aged just six.
01:29 Despite his father being an ex-pro, Johnson was largely self-taught.
01:33 He learned a lot from watching other golfers on the driving range
01:36 and mimicking their swing.
01:38 Speaking on how he started in golf, Johnson said,
01:40 "My dad would answer my questions when I asked them,
01:43 but by and large, he let me find my own way.
01:45 I'm glad he did because I'm a firm believer in individuality.
01:49 Everyone is different.
01:51 For me, the best way to improve is to figure out your own golf swing
01:54 and then work out what works best for you."
01:56 This is something I've done throughout my career.
01:58 He does have a coach now, though, and he's currently coached
02:02 by Claude Harmon III, who he's been with since 2014.
02:05 His brother, Austin, has been his caddy since 2013.
02:09 The two have been a very successful pairing on tour,
02:13 but also share many interests outside of golf.
02:15 Both are huge basketball fans, and Austin played college basketball
02:20 at Charleston Southern University.
02:22 He started the Dustin Johnson Golf School based at TPC Myrtle Beach
02:26 in South Carolina, and he also has his own foundation,
02:29 which helps young golfers with youth and collegiate golf programs.
02:32 And finally, after Tiger Woods and Greg Norman,
02:35 he has held the world number one position for the third longest spell in history.
02:39 So there you have it, 10 facts you may or may not have known about Dustin Johnson.
02:44 Expect to see plenty of this guy for the next decade or so,
02:48 as he aims to become one of the greatest to have ever played the game.
02:51 For more facts and information about your favorite players,
02:55 you can visit the tour section on the Golf Monthly website.
02:57 (upbeat music)
03:00 (upbeat music)