Dustin Johnson: Career Approaching Historic PGA Tour Lifetime Status
Dustin Johnson continues to dominate the game, but just how well does he stand up in terms of all-time greats? He’s about to join a club that fewer than 40 other players have made in the history of the PGA TOUR.
Only 37 players in the history of the PGA Tour have won 20 or more events. It is a special level of excellence achieved by few. Should Dustin Johnson go on to win the U.S. Open, he will reach 19 victories because the PGA Tour counts the U.S. Open in their victory count, even though it is not, technically, a PGA Tour event.
That means he has just one more to go to reach 20 victories. It’s inconceivable that he won’t reach that number, whether he wins the U.S. Open or not. At that point, he enters another level of greatness. He will be granted a PGA Tour lifetime exemption. It happens so seldom that most people never give it a thought.
The lifetime exemption means that he would be never have to worry about the top 125 in FedEx cup points for the rest of his career. He could still play regular events any time he wanted to, even if he finished in 150th or 200th place in points. He would not be able to play World Golf Championships, The Players or the FedEx Cup playoffs unless he qualified with play, but all else would be fair game.
However, it’s unlikely Johnson is thinking about any of that as he attempts to win his second U.S. Open. With a four-shot lead on nearest competitors, he is right where he wants to be, at the top of the leaderboard after 36 holes. But, of course, he’s just at the halfway point of a U.S. Open. He hasn’t won it yet. And there are plenty of bogeys and doubles waiting for the unwary.
"“Going into tomorrow, I’m going to stick to my game plan, stick to trying to play the holes how I have the first couple of days and see what happens,” he said to media after posting a second round 67. “I’m just trying to hit whatever shot that I feel like I’ve got the most confidence that I’m going to hit the fairway with. You know, that’s the most important. And then coming into the greens, just looking at where you want your ball to land.”More from Pro Golf NowGolf Rumors: LIV set to sign Masters Champion in stunning dealFantasy Golf: Grant Thornton Invitational DFS Player SelectionsBrutal return leaves Will Zalatoris looking towards 2024Stars You Know at World Champions Cup Starts Thursday at ConcessionFantasy Golf: An Early Look at the 2024 Masters Tournament"
As for being in the lead or chasing, Johnson came up with a quote to the legendary Yogi Berra who said things like, “No one goes there nowadays, it’s too crowded,” or “I knew the record would stand until it was broken.”
Johnson’s was every bit as good. After round two, he said, “I like being in the lead for sure. It’s less shots you have to make up.”
Of course, we all knew what he meant, but it was pretty amusing.
After playing Friday morning in the rain and drizzle, mist and clouds, Johnson will rest and watch the afternoon rounds to see how the course plays the rest of the day. He said he hoped to be able to watch tomorrow morning’s coverage to see how the competition plays the course before he goes out.
Will Johnson get to No. 19? In two days we will know. After that he needs just one more victory to reach the PGA Tour lifetime level.
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Current Lifetime players:
PGA Tour players who have the lifetime designation and who are still alive and playing PGA Tour events regularly include Phil Mickelson and Tiger Woods.
Those with lifetime status playing both PGA Tour and PGA Tour Champions events are Davis Love III and Vijay Singh.
One lifetime member who still plays a few PGA Tour Champions events is Hale Irwin.
Those who have earned the lifetime status but seldom play or are unable to play are Jack Nicklaus, Tom Watson, Gene Littler, Lee Trevino, Johnny Miller, Gary Player, Raymond Floyd, Lanny Wadkins, Doug Sanders and Greg Norman.
Only two other current players are anywhere near the 20-victory mark: Ernie Els with 19 and Jim Furyk with 17. They are both 48, and at that age, it becomes more difficult to challenge for victories.