Dustin Johnson 'likes being best' so has plenty motivation for 2021

Dustin Johnson is ready to step out of a Masters dreamworld and plans to really kick on in 2021 in his bid to go down in history as one of the game’s greatest players.
Dustin Johnson during a practice round prior to the Sentry Tournament Of Champions on the Plantation Course at Kapalua Golf Club in Hawaii. Picture: Cliff Hawkins/Getty Images.Dustin Johnson during a practice round prior to the Sentry Tournament Of Champions on the Plantation Course at Kapalua Golf Club in Hawaii. Picture: Cliff Hawkins/Getty Images.
Dustin Johnson during a practice round prior to the Sentry Tournament Of Champions on the Plantation Course at Kapalua Golf Club in Hawaii. Picture: Cliff Hawkins/Getty Images.

The American has been savouring his sweet success since achieving a boyhood dream of claiming a Green Jacket at Augusta National with a polished performance in November.

But it’s back to business for him this week in the PGA Tour’s Sentry Tournament of Champions in Hawaii, an event he won for a second time in 2018 by eight shots.

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Johnson was in hot form towards the end of last year, having also landed a first FedEx Cup success on the back of victories in the Northern Trust and the Tour Championship.

His second major win came four-and-a-half years after the first one in the 2016 US Open at Oakmont and the 36-year-old doesn’t want a similar wait for the next one.

“Motivation for me, it's not that hard,” said the world No 1. “I mean, I like being the best. I want to continue the good play and hopefully can have a little bit better year this year.

“There's plenty of areas in my game where I can improve. I still feel like I can get a lot better with the wedges.”

Johnson won the rescheduled 2020 Masters by five strokes with a record 20-under-par total of 268, two strokes better than the previous mark jointly held by Tiger Woods (1997) and Jordan Spieth ( 2015).

“You dream about winning it and what it's going to be like, but, until you actually do and experience it, I don't think the dream was anywhere close to the feeling and the gratification and everything that goes along with it. It was much more special than I dreamed, for sure,” he said.

“Winning it when I did, in November, was kind of nice because I did get to take some time off and enjoy.

“With the holidays, Thanksgiving and Christmas, I spent a lot of time with the family and so it's been great. Did a little bit of celebrating, too. Haven't played a whole lot of golf, but that was on purpose.

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“The Green Jacket is in my closet at home. I've worn it a couple times. Not a whole lot. I'll put it on every once in a while at the house.

“I have not watched the replay yet. I'm going to, I just haven't done it yet. I've got the link to watch it. So I am looking forward to that.”

Johnson is set for a short spell as the title holder, with the 2021 edition scheduled to be back in its traditional April slot, but is looking to be the man to beat once again when that comes around.

“Even the little that I've played, practicing a little bit the last couple days, everything feels pretty similar,” he said.

“Obviously not quite as sharp as I was probably back at Augusta, but I'm seeing a lot of the same shapes and I feel like I'm doing everything pretty well.

“This is a good week. The fairways are nice and wide and, though you have still got to hit some quality golf shots, it is okay to be a little rusty.”

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