AUGUSTA, Ga. (AP) The particular recovery from the back injury had taken a lot longer than he imagined, lengthier than the sting of having to skip the Masters.
Dustin Johnson , having a history of misfortune in the majors, includes a remarkable knack of moving forward.
If only everyone would stop reminding him.
” I get asked about it every single day out here on the range or even walking down the fairway, ” Manley said. ” So I’ mirielle reminded all the time. ”
The back injury getting most of the interest at this year’ s Masters goes to Padraig harrington , and for good reason. It was much more severe, requiring four surgeries more than four years, the last one blend in the lumbar area. More than maintaining Woods from playing Augusta Nationwide three of the last four yrs, he hardly played at all.
Johnson’ s injury was obviously a freak accident at the worst period.
He had won their last three tournaments against 3 of the strongest fields of the season, which not only elevated him in order to No . 1 in the world, it produced him the biggest favorite at the Experts since Woods was at their peak.
Then twenty four hours before he was to first tee off, calamity struck.
Johnson was still wearing clothes after returning home from the fitness center. It was raining. His son had been headed back from day care, therefore he ran downstairs in his house for rent to move the car. The stairs had been wooden, a bad combination with clothes. Johnson slipped and crashed throughout the stairs, wrenching his back. Their brother, Austin, was the first to achieve him and still recalls the crazy eyes of his older brother finding out about at him.
Manley tried to loosen up on the range. This individual went to the putting green. And after that he had no choice but in order to withdraw.
” It had been just a freak thing, and it occurred. There’ s nothing I can perform about it except I’ m right here this year, ” Johnson said Wednesday. ” Hopefully, I can tee up on Thursday. Definitely be looking ahead to that. ”
Twelve months later, so much has changed. Johnson continues to be No . 1 in the world for the 59th consecutive week – only Forest (three times), Greg Norman (twice) and Nick Faldo have kept the No . 1 ranking lengthier.
But he hasn’ t won since the first competition of the year, an eight-shot success at Kapalua. He came near at Pebble Beach until Ted Potter Jr. beat him within the final round. He was not especially close in his last start, dropping all three matches in his team at the Dell Technologies Match Enjoy.
He’ s not really worried about that, either, because Manley doesn’ t worry about much.
” Last year I was regarding as confident as I’ ve ever been, so it was probably a ten, ” he said when requested to compare his confidence level on a range of 1 to 10. ” This season it’ s probably a nine 1/2. Starting to swing it much better. Feeling a lot better on the golf course, for certain. ”
Just don’ t get the idea there is any extra motivation. Johnson doesn’ t appearance back.
” Precisely why? ” he asked. ” There’ s nothing you can do about it. Ideally, I can get myself in a position exactly where I have a chance to win. Last year is not related to anything happening right now. ”
What’ s happening only at that Masters is a wide-open race for that green jacket. Rarely have a lot of top players been on top of their particular games coming into the first major from the year, including past champions Phil Mickelson, Bubba Watson and Michael jordan Spieth.
Not to become overlooked is Woods, who hasn’ t won this year but indicates he is plenty capable.
” I think that this year seems like you probably have eight or even 10 guys that are in great form, with a really good, solid possibility of winning, ” defending champion Sergio Garcia said. ” So it’ s kind of interesting to see the way the week goes on, because every week is really a different story. But at the moment, it’ s quite exciting. ”
Along with a green jacket, the particular No . 1 ranking is up regarding grabs.
Justin Jones (No. 2), Jon Rahm (No. 3) and Spieth (No. 4) all have a reasonable chance to substitute Johnson at No . 1 when they were to win. Thomas and Rahm already have had chances this year. Rahm needed to win at Torrey Pines and was one shot at the rear of going into the weekend until he or she closed with rounds of 75-77. Thomas only had to win their semifinal match Sunday morning on the Match Play against Bubba Watson. He says he thought too much regarding No . 1 and it cost your pet.
Johnson, already house in Florida at that point, didn’ to even bother watching. He had been on his boat. There was nothing can do about it.
He or she is proud of the No . 1 rank, mainly for reaching the top.
” But most importantly, I wish to stay here, ” he mentioned. ” To do that, I’ ve have got to keep pushing myself and keep spending so much time. ”
That begins with getting to the first tee upon Thursday. Johnson was on the variety Tuesday afternoon trying to sharpen their wedges. There is one more day associated with practice, a short day because of the K?rester 3 Tournament. Johnson already acquired plans for Wednesday.
” I’ m going to carry it really easy, ” he said.
