A look at Masters champion Dustin Johnson’s hopes of glory in the 2021 Majors

Dave Tindall
8 April 2021

Dustin Johnson at the Sentry Tournament of Champions

The World No.1 added a second Major victory by taking the Green Jacket at November’s Masters but can he add to that tally this year?

Dustin Johnson will once again head into this year's Masters as the World No.1.

He justified that status back in November when winning the Augusta National showpiece and bucking a recent trend that those at the top of the world rankings struggled to win the Green Jacket. The last had been Tiger Woods in 2002.

But he has even more history to overcome this time.

Only three players have ever defended at Augusta National: legends of the game Tiger, Jack Nicklaus and Nick Faldo.

DJ has a lot on his plate to join such elite company and his form certainly isn't what it was back in November.

The American went into that delayed 2020 Masters on the back of form reading: 2-6-3-3-1-2 in his previous six starts.

By contrast, in recent weeks he's laboured his way through the Florida Swing (54th and 48th) and suffered a disappointing group stage exit at the WGC Dell Match Play.

Here, Planet Sport Golf examines his hopes at this year's Major venues - Augusta National, Kiawah Island, Torrey Pines and Royal St. George's.

The Masters - Augusta National

Johnson's best odds: 8/1 at Paddy Power

Record at The Masters

Appearances: 10
Cuts made: 9
Top 10s: 5
Best finishes: Won (2020), 2nd (2019), 4th (2016), 6th (2015), 10th (2018).

Johnson, like many leading players, took a little time to work out the intricacies of Augusta National and didn't crack the top 10 in any of his first five starts.

But it's been a completely different story with his latest five: DJ has made the top 10 in them all and that's culminated with a tied second in 2019 and a dominant five-shot victory in 2020.

Johnson is an incredible 32-under par for his last eight rounds at Augusta - average score 68 - so, despite the slight dip in form, he deserves his place at the very front of the betting.

He summed up his feeling towards the event when winning last year: "The Masters is for me the biggest tournament and the one I wanted to win the most.

"As a kid, I was dreaming about winning the Masters and having Tiger put the Green Jacket on you still feels like a dream."

PGA Championship - Kiawah Island

Johnson's best odds: 10/1 Sky Bet

Record at the PGA Championship

Appearances: 11
Cuts made: 9
Top 10s: 6
Best finishes: 2nd (2020 Harding Park), 2nd (2019 Bethpage), 5th (2010 Whistling Straits), 7th (2015 Whistling Straits), 8th (2013 Oak Hill), 10th (2009 Hazeltine)

Johnson has always flourished in this event, setting the tone with a top 10 on debut at Hazeltine in 2009.

The following year, he looked all set for glory at Whistling Straits when entering the final hole with a one-shot lead. But he bogeyed and was then informed that he'd grounded his club in wasteland that was deemed a bunker, thus incurring a two-shot penalty which knocked him back to fifth.

His record of near misses in the event has continued with second places in both 2019 and 2020. He finished two back from Brooks Koepka two years ago and that same margin adrift of Collin Morikawa at Harding Park last August.

DJ must feel this tournament owes him one and perhaps this year's venue, Kiawah Island, would be the perfect venue for that to happen.

It's a lengthy par 72 that should be right up his street and is located in his home state of South Carolina.

That said, he rather underwhelmed when it hosted this event in 2012. DJ shot 71-79-72-71 and had to settle for tied 48th.

US Open - Torrey Pines

Johnson's best odds: 10/1 Unibet

Record at the US Open

Appearances: 13
Cuts made: 11
Top 10s: 6
Best finishes: Win (2016 Oakmont), 2nd (2015 Chambers Bay), 3rd (2018 Shinnecok), 4th (2014 Pinehurst), 6th (2020 Winged Foot), 8th (2010 Pebble Beach)

This event will always hold a special place in Johnson's heart as it was the scene of his first Major triumph.

That came at Oakmont in 2016 when he secured victory by three shots in an event when just four players broke par.

But he had to go through some painful near-misses before putting his name on the trophy.

At Pebble Beach in 2010, he led by three after 54 holes before collapsing to a final-round 80 and finishing tied eighth.

And at Chambers Bay in 2015, he had a 12-foot eagle putt to win the event. He knocked it by and then missed the one back, losing in heartbreaking fashion and gifting victory to Jordan Spieth.

Still, with a win and four other top sixes in the last seven US Opens, this event is a likely scene for another Major.

Record at Torrey Pines in the Farmers Insurance Open

Appearances: 9
Cuts made: 6
Top 10s: 1
Best finish: 3rd (2011)

Johnson has had some excellent results on the West Coast and, in theory, a long course like Torrey Pines South should be ideal for him. Plenty of other big hitters have thrived there.

However, his record on the San Diego track is surprisingly average. He did post a top three in 2011 but his next best is 18th and he hasn't played the event since missing the cut in 2017.

He also contested the US Open there in 2008, finishing tied 48th, although that was early in his career and he's a different proposition nowadays.

Open Championship - Royal St. George's

Johnson's best odds: 10/1 at Sky Bet

Record at the Open Championship

Appearances: 11
Cuts made: 9
Top 10s: 3
Best finishes: 2nd (2011 Royal St. George's), 9th (2012 Lytham), 9th (2016 Troon)

DJ is a fan of links golf and courses by the coast although, in terms of top 10s, this is his worst major.

The bad news: he has just three. The good news: his best Open performance came at this year's venue, Royal St. George's in Kent.

Johnson had a legitimate chance to win that 2011 event but, two back with five to play, pushed his 2-iron approach out of bounds at 14. He settled himself to finish in a tie for second, three behind winner Darren Clarke.

He's had a couple of tied ninths since but hasn't really made the impression expected of him.

Conclusion

With The Masters fast approaching, Johnson is the favourite in the betting at all four Majors.

That's a fairly default position given that he's the World No.1.

But the picture is a little mixed.

He has a brilliant record at Augusta National but has the added pressure of being defending champion. His current form is a little off too.

DJ has a combined 12 top 10s across the PGA Championship and US Open (six in each) so should always be regarded as a threat in those. However, he doesn't have much course form at either of this year's venues.

By contrast, his Open Championship record is a little patchy and yet the 2021 edition will be held at the place - Royal St. George's - where he thrived back in 2011.

Majors are always hard to come by and it's taken an awful long time for a player of his class to reach two.

But history shows that players can have bursts of Major wins and perhaps this is the sweet spot for Johnson. Having won the most recent Major to be played, maybe this is when he kicks on and quickly adds a third and a fourth.

In which case, these William Hill odds are worth a look too.

Dustin Johnson major wins in 2021: 1 or more 7/4, two or more 16/1, three or more 125/1, all four 400/1.