The PLAYERS Championship Power Rankings: Top 10 at TPC Sawgrass

Dustin Johnson may have new life at the PLAYERS Championship. Since missing the cut in his debut in 2008, DJ has impressively played the weekend every time out since (aside from 2013 when he withdrew).

With that said, he could never climb above a T28 finish. It’s not the perfect course for him since he’s forced to hit less than driver on so many holes.

He took a step in the right direction last year with a T12. Johnson was among those who took a liking to the changes made at Sawgrass prior to 2017.

"“I think the golf course is great,” Johnson said before last year’s event. “It’s in the best shape I’ve ever seen it. The greens are perfect, fairways are perfect. You know, the few changes they made I thought are really good. “You know, 12 obviously is a lot different, but I like the fact that it gives you more options than before. The old No. 12 you just kind of — everyone had to lay up to a certain spot and you’d kind of wedge it on green. Now you’ve got some options. You can think about if you want to go for it or if you want to lay it up, so I thought that’s really good changes.”"

DJ’s been solid in the 2017-18 season, though I think some of us expected more than one win (Tournament of Champions) at this point. I’m not too dissuaded. He has five top-10s since the turn of the calendar. In that span in stroke play events, he’s finished no worse than T16.

Growing up in the southeast, Johnson is well accustomed to putting on Bermuda greens. He’s been a solid 44th in strokes gained in the category.

He’s a positive in all major strokes gained categories and is first in rough proximity to boot. As long as he can find reasonable lines for his approach shots (easier said than done if playing from the thick stuff), he’ll have a chance to play well again this week.