FedEx Cup Playoffs Preview: Breaking down the top ten contenders

CHARLOTTE, NC - AUGUST 13: Justin Thomas of the United States shakes hands with Hideki Matsuyama of Japan on the 18th green during the final round of the 2017 PGA Championship at Quail Hollow Club on August 13, 2017 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo by Stuart Franklin/Getty Images) /

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(Photo by Andrew Redington/Getty Images) /

2017 has been a tale of two seasons for Dustin Johnson. Before the Masters, he was winning every tournament he went to. Three straight victories from the Genesis Open to the WGC-Dell Match Play rocketed Johnson to No. 1 in both the World Ranking and the FedEx Cup points race. Then, a fall before the Masters turned out to be the Kryptonite to Johnson’s Superman.

Of course, Dustin Johnson still has a different definition of a “down” run compared to most of the Tour field. Since his return to action at the Wells Fargo Championship in May, where he came inches away from a playoff, DJ has six top-25 finishes in nine starts. By his own standards, he’s underperformed in the year’s remaining majors. However, as he’s healing up more, you can see the confidence returning to his swing.

Johnson has been a solid Playoff performer over the last several years. His win at last year’s BMW Championship was his first Playoff victory since 2011, but he’s qualified for the Tour Championship every season since 2009 (with the exception of 2014, when he took a leave of absence).

There’s plenty of motivation to be found in redemption. In last year’s Tour Championship, DJ fell apart on Sunday, but still had a chance to win the FedEx Cup. It took an all-world effort from Rory McIlroy, who won at East Lake in a playoff, to keep Johnson from the season championship. If he can put it together for four weeks, he’ll erase that memory, as well as a season of “what might’ve been”.

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