Dustin Johnson Says He Loves Coming Back to Genesis Open, Riviera CC

Dustin Johnson looks for a surge of positive energy as he prepares to defend his title at this week’s Genesis Open.

For Dustin Johnson, last year’s victory at the Genesis Open was all about his golf game coming around at the right time.

"“I knew it was someplace I was going to win, it was just when was I going to do it,” Johnson said about Riviera CC in a pre-tournament, media day interview. “Last year coming here I was playing really well, and this is a golf course I really enjoy. It’s one of my favorite courses that we play all year.”"

He has a history of playing well at the famous George Thomas track, with a 4^th in 2016, 2^nd in 2015 and 2014 and the victory last year. Since the beginning of his PGA Tour career in 2008, it’s been his personal ATM. After his rookie season when he finished 59^th, he has had only two missed cuts at Riviera. His other finishes, except for a 10^th in 2009 have all been in the top five. If he maintains his form, he’s certainly a favorite to defend.

“I had a really big lead going into the last nine holes,” he recalled about 2017. “It was a lot of fun and kind of put it on cruise control the last nine holes just to get it in the house.”

(For those who are fans of golf history, the phrase “cruise control” in golf was created by caddie Linn Strickler to describe Fred Couples’ good play when Strickler was carrying Couples’ bag. Couples also loves Riviera, and he won there twice.)

However, for Johnson, winning the Genesis Open in 2017 took on extra meaning because it got him to No. 1 in the world golf rankings.

"“Obviously to get myself to No. 1 in the world was huge for me,” Johnson admitted. “I really like being No. 1 in the world. For me, it’s a huge motivator to continue to do what I’m doing, continue to work hard in the gym, to continue to work hard on my golf game, and for me a bonus is it proves that what I’m doing and the way that I’m doing things is working.”"

Could DJ start another epic run at this year’s Genesis Open?

Last year’s victory at Riviera, he said, was the beginning of what led to two more victories in the spring at the WGC events in Mexico and Austin, TX. Then, of course, there was the sock-footed, stair slip early in the week at the Masters.

“It took me a long time to get my game back to where I felt like it was even close to where it was last year starting at this tournament,” he explained about the fall. “I still didn’t feel right like when I was swinging until probably November.”

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He described his golf swing as compromised during that period of time. Finally, in November and December, he felt he could swing the way he wanted to and could hit the shots he wanted to hit. He proved it by winning at the Sentry Tournament of Champions and believes his game is in good shape.

“Riviera, it’s just a place that I love, and I love coming back here and I love playing,” he added. “It’s such a good golf course and there’s really not much trouble, it’s just a golf course where you have to hit good shots. You’ve got to control your golf ball, you’ve got to hit it in the right spots.”

He has liked the course since his rookie season.

“I felt like it was a place that really suited my game,” he added.

With family ties to the LA area, he will have a lot of support from the gallery, which, he explained, gives him an extra boost.

Next: Genesis Open Power Rankings

As far as advice on how to play the course, Johnson said it is important to hit it straight and hit it on the green.

“I don’t hit all my shots where I want to,” he admitted. “Very few a round I hit exactly where I want to, but Riviera’s definitely, it’s a golf course for controlling your golf ball. You want to keep it on the right side of the hole and the right side of the fairways so you can attack the fives.”

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