Saudi International: Power ranking the top 10 at Royal Greens

KING ABDULLAH ECONOMIC CITY, SAUDI ARABIA - JANUARY 29: A general view of the first tee during a practice round prior to the Saudi International at the Royal Greens Golf and Country Club on January 29, 2019 in King Abdullah Economic City, Saudi Arabia. (Photo by Ross Kinnaird/Getty Images) /

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ABU DHABI, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES – JANUARY 19: Dustin Johnson of the United States lines up a putt on the eighth green during Day Four of the Abu Dhabi HSBC Golf Championship at Abu Dhabi Golf Club on January 19, 2019 in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. (Photo by Warren Little/Getty Images) /

Dustin Johnson is playing in his second European Tour event in a row. Prior to taking last week off, DJ finished T16 at the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship. It was his second event of 2019 as he debuted with a T4 at the PGA Tour’s Tournament of Champions.

The American is one of the favorites this week and has been more consistent than perhaps what he’s given credit for.

The 34-year-old hasn’t finished worse than T30 in his last 11 starts. Granted, some of these events were limited field events, but he’s still got six top-10s, including a win, in that span.

After three PGA Tour starts in 2018-19, Johnson has surprisingly been led by his short game. He’s second in strokes gained around the green. That’d be an improvement from 65th in 2016-17 and 33rd in 2017-18.

Johnson is seeking his first win at a standard European Tour event, though he does have five World Golf Championship titles on his resume.

DJ seems to have the ability to drown out the noise and just play golf on any given week. He, perhaps better than anyone, could keep his head down this week and play well.

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