This article is part of our Weekly PGA Preview series.
With his victory at the Canadian Open, Dustin Johnson moved his career PGA Tour win total to 19. Three of those wins have come this season by a combined 17 strokes. Nine of his 18 stroke-play victories have come with relative ease (by three strokes or more).
It is that ease that makes everything Johnson does seem effortless, even though we know there's more to it than simply showing up for his tee time and strolling around the grounds. If Johnson is giving 100 percent, however, he certainly doesn't show it. In that sense, he's the anti-Tiger. Although Johnson's resume is miles away from approaching the Tiger discussion, he is, like Tiger was once, the most physically dominant player of his generation. Unlike Tiger, though, it doesn't look like he's battling ... ever.
In his heyday, Woods won often and often won easily, and even though he cruised to victory on several occasions, it never looked like a walk through the park and that's because Woods never let himself relax on the course. It served Woods well, obviously, and perhaps taking the opposite approach has hurt Johnson's game over the years, but it's hard to argue with 19 career wins. The one point of contention with Johnson is, of course, his lack of major wins. With only one major on his resume, he can't be considered an all-time great.
Fair or not, plenty of golfers have won 15-plus events on the PGA Tour, but the word "great" is reserved for
With his victory at the Canadian Open, Dustin Johnson moved his career PGA Tour win total to 19. Three of those wins have come this season by a combined 17 strokes. Nine of his 18 stroke-play victories have come with relative ease (by three strokes or more).
It is that ease that makes everything Johnson does seem effortless, even though we know there's more to it than simply showing up for his tee time and strolling around the grounds. If Johnson is giving 100 percent, however, he certainly doesn't show it. In that sense, he's the anti-Tiger. Although Johnson's resume is miles away from approaching the Tiger discussion, he is, like Tiger was once, the most physically dominant player of his generation. Unlike Tiger, though, it doesn't look like he's battling ... ever.
In his heyday, Woods won often and often won easily, and even though he cruised to victory on several occasions, it never looked like a walk through the park and that's because Woods never let himself relax on the course. It served Woods well, obviously, and perhaps taking the opposite approach has hurt Johnson's game over the years, but it's hard to argue with 19 career wins. The one point of contention with Johnson is, of course, his lack of major wins. With only one major on his resume, he can't be considered an all-time great.
Fair or not, plenty of golfers have won 15-plus events on the PGA Tour, but the word "great" is reserved for those who won multiple majors. Johnson could easily win multiple majors, or he could stay forever stuck on one, there's no way to know how his story will end. One thing is certain, though, whether he wins more majors or not, he's going to make it look easy.
This week: WGC-Bridgestone Invitational - Firestone Country Club, Akron, Ohio
Last Year: Hideki Matsuyama shot a final-round 61 on his way to a five-stroke victory over Zach Johnson.
PLAYERS TO CONSIDER
Tiger Woods
No, he's not the guy who won this event eight times – yes, eight times – but he's at least resembled that guy at points this season. He's coming off a solid effort at the British Open, and although he's facing a stellar field, he does have enough game to beat the best in the world ... especially on this course.
Dustin Johnson
DJ has been hit or miss at this event, but, safe to say, he's on his game entering, so odds are we'll see the good DJ this week. DJ has only one top-10 at this event, but that top-10 was a win in 2016. When at his best, DJ is the best player on the planet. If he brings his "A" game this week, like he did last week, he'll be up to 20 career wins.
Rory McIlroy
If you still have McIlroy in a one-and-done format, this might be the optimal spot to deploy him. McIlroy is coming off a solid outing at the Open, but his major record hasn't been great the last couple years. The same can't be said for his record at this event as he's finished in the top 5 here in three of his last four starts, including a win in 2014.
Kevin Chappell
The thought of taking Chappell anywhere, let alone at an event like this, a month ago, would have been insane. Chappell entering the U.S. Open, Chappell had missed five of his previous six cuts on the PGA Tour, but he's since righted the ship and could be a solid sleeper pick this week. Chappell has a T13 and T3 in two starts at this event and enters off a T6 at the British Open.
Rickie Fowler
Fowler might not be mentally ready to win a major yet, but he's certainly in the mix at an event like this. He has yet to win this event, but he's been a factor quite often. Fowler finished in the top 10 here the last four years and his form is pretty solid coming in with top-20s in four of his last five starts on the PGA Tour.
PLAYERS TO AVOID
Sergio Garcia
Garcia does have a runner-up showing here, but for the most part, he's been a non-factor. A non-factor is also what he's been on the PGA Tour this season. Garcia missed his last four cuts on the PGA Tour and seven of his last eight. Garcia hasn't played well at a stroke-play event on the PGA Tour since March.
Tommy Fleetwood
Fleetwood was my one-and-done pick last week and finished T6, so what's not to like? As someone who tracked nearly every shot of Fleetwood last week, I can say that he was extremely fortunate to finish in the top 10. Fleetwood was all over the place off the tee last week, and Firestone will not be as kind to those missing the fairway as Glen Abbey. He has every right to improve off the tee this week, but I'd caution against taking a golfer who has something major to fix prior to playing this week.
Russell Knox
With a win at the Irish Open, there was some steam on Knox prior to the Open, but he fell flat. That's something we've become accustomed to in the states this year as Knox has only three top-10s this season and nothing better than T7. Knox finished in the top 5 here last year, but he was playing at a higher level at the time.
Justin Thomas
Thomas has only played this event twice, so he's got plenty of time to improve his record, but to this point, he's been less than spectacular here. Thomas finished T28 and T33 at this event and if he was in better form, he wouldn't be listed here, but for a few months now Thomas hasn't looked like the golfer who won the PGA Championship last year.
Phil Mickelson
The measure of success at this event is a top-10 and anything less than a top-20 is a pretty poor performance when you factor in the small field. So the fact that Mickelson has finished outside the top 20 in eight of his last nine starts here, gives you an idea of how much he's struggled on this track. Mickelson has only two top-10s here in 16 starts. This just isn't his event.
ONE AND DONE GOLFER
Last week: Tommy Fleetwood (T6) - $215,450; Season - $8,145,520
This week: Xander Schauffele - As you are probably aware, I'm just about out of firepower, but fortunately for me, Schauffele is once again heating up as summer wanes. Schauffele played his best golf late in the season last year, and he's trending that way once again with a top-10s at the last two majors. Schauffele also proved he could get around this course last year as he posted a T13 in his first appearance.
PGATOUR.COM PICKS
Starters: Tiger Woods, Dustin Johnson, Rory McIlroy, Rickie Fowler
Bench: Kevin Chappell, Xander Schauffele
SURVIVOR PICK
Last week: Jhonattan Vegas - (T29); Streak - 5
This week: no cut
