Dallas

No More Close Calls, Dustin Johnson is a Major Champion

"DJ!  DJ!  DJ!"

Those were the chants echoing on the 18th hole as Dustin Johnson walked to his ball after stuffing his approach shot to 5-feet.  He drained the putt for birdie and pumped his first into the air as a major champion.

Johnson is no longer the most talented golfer to be major-less.  He's the 2016 U.S. Open Championship.

It's a story of redemption.  "Mr. Almost" had chances to win majors many times over the past decade.  His best opportunity came a year ago, at this tournament.  It came down to he and Jordan Spieth on the 18th hole during the 2015 U.S. Open at Chambers Bay.

DJ had an eagle putt to win his first major.  It wasn't a bad effort, but the ball did run by 4-feet.  The comeback attempt to tie Spieth sailed by on the short side and Johnson lost the U.S. Open in dramatic fashion.

For an entire year, Johnson was continuously asked about that heartbreaking moment.  Those questions will stop.  Johnson was the best ballstriker in this tournament.  He won with a final score of -4, three better than the field.  If his putter didn't let him down a few times, he easily could have won by 6 or more.

In truth, Johnson won by four.  The USGA ridicuously penalized him for the ball unintentionally moving on the 5th green.  They claim Johnson caused the ball to move a quarter of an inch during a practice stroke.  He disagreed, but the USGA added a stroke to his penalty.

It's a sidebar story to what truly matters, which is Johnson overcoming his demons and gettiung the "monkey off the back."  No long will people say "the most talented player not to be a major champion."  Instead, he'll be known as "a major champion."  Speaking of talent, I could argue that Johnson is the most talented overall golfer on the planet outside of Jason Day.  He drives it as far as anyone on tour, he has a strong iron game and his short game is good enough to win several major championships.

He traditionally comes to Dallas for the AT&T Byron Nelson and for the sake of DFW fans, I hope he keeps the tournament in his schedule.  He's as entertaining to watch as any golfer on tour.

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