So close yet so far. That has been the theme of Dustin Johnson’s major campaign thus far this year. He has had at least a share of the lead in four rounds at the majors this season, but unfortunately, not in the one that really matters.
Can Dustin Johnson finally win his first major title at Whistling Straits? Read on below as we name the top three reasons why Johnson will win the prestigious Wanamaker Trophy on Sunday. While you’re at it, you can check out our other compelling features on why Rory McIlroy, Jordan Spieth and even the struggling Tiger Woods will win the PGA Championship this coming weekend.
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Three Reasons Why Dustin Johnson Will Win the 2015 PGA Championship
Johnson is Overdue for a Major Title
[sc:Golf240banner ]If there’s one player primed to break his major duck at the PGA Championship this week, it’s got to be Dustin Johnson. The 31-year-old has recorded nine top-10s in 26 career major starts. He finished tied for sixth at the Masters last April, finishing his round nine-under.
He even came close to winning the US Open last June, but a calamitous three-putt on the final hole wrecked his title dreams. He grabbed the 36-hole lead at the Open Championship last month, but surprisingly imploded over the weekend, closing with two rounds of 75.
None of those heartbreaks can compare, however, to the one he experienced at Whistling Straits five years ago. His one-shot lead evaporated on the final hole of the 2010 PGA Championship after he was assessed a two-shot penalty because of a grounded club in the bunker. Johnson needs to eradicate those mistakes if he is to win his first major title this week.
He’s Playing Some Excellent Golf
Talk all you want about Dustin Johnson’s near-misses in the majors, but the fact remains he’s having an excellent 2015 season thus far. He has recorded seven top-10 finishes in 15 starts this season. Only Jordan Spieth, Zach Johnson, Hideki Matsuyama, Brandt Snedeker and Robert Streb have more top-10s than Johnson this year.
The big-hitting American has already won once this season, grabbing the victory at the WGC-Cadillac Championship last March. He rallied from five shots down in the final round to beat J.B. Holmes by a single shot. With the way he’s hitting the golf ball right now, you can expect Johnson to be right in the thick of things come Sunday afternoon. He is pegged at +900 to win the PGA Championship.
Johnson’s Game is Built for Whistling Straits
Plenty of experts have been weighing in on Johnson’s chances this week and they are unanimous in saying that the American’s golf game fits Whistling Straits to a tee. The par-72 course is 7,501 yards long, which is perfect for a bomber like Dustin Johnson. He leads the PGA Tour in driving distance this season, averaging 319.0 yards per drive. He is also sixth in the PGA Tour in par-5 scoring, averaging just 4.52 strokes on par-5 holes this year.
Thanks to his extreme length off the tee, Johnson is fifth in the PGA Tour in scoring with an impressive 69.746 average. He’s expected to shoot some low numbers at Whistling Straits this week as he has fared extremely well in that golf course before. The last time Whistling Straits hosted the PGA Championship back in 2010, Johnson finished in a tie for fourth, shooting a nine-under total of 279.
