Harbour Town on Johnson's radar, if not in his memory
HILTON HEAD ISLAND
At first glance, Harbour Town Golf Links’ cozy configuration would not seem to favor a long-ball hitter such as former Irmo resident and PGA Tour rookie Dustin Johnson.
After all, Johnson’s forte, dating back to when he was winning back-to-back Fairway Outreach City Tournament titles (before he headed off to Coastal Carolina, where he was an All-American) was his ability to crush his drives prodigious distances. At 6-foot-4, the long-and-rangy 23-year-old is a prototype for the modern smash-and-gouge professional game.
That hasn’t worked at the Verizon Heritage in years past, however. Last year’s winner, Boo Weekley, raved about Harbour Town’s tight fairways and imposing marshes, calling it a ball-striker’s paradise – which just happens to suit Weekley’s game.
Dustin Johnson? At first glance, not so much.
That said, he says he likes his chances here this week to post his first PGA Tour victory, or at least revive a season that started with such promise but has run aground in recent weeks.
“I’m comfortable here; actually, (the proximity of trees and out-of-bounds) works out well for me,” he said. “I can hit a lot of 2-irons off the tees, which is strong for me. The tee line is really narrow (and) I like that.
“Even though I hit it long, I’m not a big fan of wide-open golf courses, because (then) I hit it everywhere. So you have nothing to aim at.
“I like the course. I think it’s in great condition, and I think it suits my game pretty well, (the) small greens. It’s a great little track.”
Certainly, with “maybe 100” family and friends on hand for his “homecoming,” Johnson would love to defy the stereotype and win this week.
That would get his year back onto the strong track he steered during the first six weeks, when he had three top-12 finishes and won most of the $459,710 he’s taken home so far. But after that strong start, Johnson has made just two of six cuts and won just $26,000-plus the past two months.
He blamed some of that on too many weeks playing without a break, and some on unspecified “bad practice habits.” Pressed, he blamed “just your basic fundamentals with your swing, set-up, posture and just stuff.”
And, like most PGA Tour players, when his game goes south, it’s been a problem with his putter. This week, though, he’s gone back to the Taylormade Spider putter he previously used at the Buick Invitational, where he tied for 37th.
“I’m getting back to where I’m going to stick with one,” Johnson said. “I’ve been putting pretty good lately, so I’m excited.”
A Johnson victory would be popular with both his own support group and Verizon Heritage officials, who extended Johnson (and S.C. products Tommy Gainey and Kyle Thompson) sponsor exemptions. Johnson admits he’d like nothing better than a win here.
“(But) it doesn’t matter where I get my first win, it will still be very important,” he said. “It doesn’t matter if it’s this week or at the end of the year. Obviously I’d like to get it here in front of my family and friends, but a win is a win, and it’s very important anywhere it happens.”
In keeping with that sort of non-discriminating approach, Johnson admitted he had little recollection of Harbour Town from previous visits, most when he was still a junior player.
“Coming in yesterday, I couldn’t have told you what one hole looked like, except for 18,” he said. “Once I got to the course, I remembered them. But before I got out there, I couldn’t remember much.”
That, apparently, isn’t restricted to Harbour Town. Asked to list his favorite S.C. courses, Johnson was, shall we say, less than specific.
“(Harbour Town) would probably be one of my top two favorites in the state,” he said, “this one and then obviously … there’s another course I really like.”
No names, though. As he said, a win anywhere is a win.
Bob Gillespie
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