Dustin Johnson shot the most disappointing 60 in golf history at The Northern Trust on Friday. Of course, 60s is really disappointing (especially not if you lead the event like DJ is), but Johnson’s start – 11 under thru 11 holes – combined with his close (even over his last seven) left everyone wondering, “What if? ” of one of the most talented players in the history of this sport.
Amazingly, it was also not the only 59 watch on the day at TPC Boston. Scottie Scheffler shot the magic number of golf in the morning wave before DJ went out and played the first 11 in 11 under coast but home to 60, which is the lowest round of his career. Only twice in PGA Tour history have two 59s been shot in the same year. Today, they were shot almost the same round.
Johnson’s 60 started just as Scheffler’s 59 finished (this is the second time two 60s or better have been shot on the same day). Once you looked up from the chaos of Scheffler’s 59 – the 12th sub-60 score in PGA Tour history – DJ was already hard at work on what the 13th would have been. It started like, well, no other round in the history of the sport has begun. Johnson opened Birdie-Eagle-Birdie-Eagle-Birdie and was a surprising 7 under five holes.
The rest of his first nine were an absolute show. He hit every green in regulation and needed just 11 putts to shoot 27 on the front of the course, which was three better than Scheffler had done several hours earlier and one of the best nine-hole scores in the PGA Tour history.
“Everything went well today,” Johnson said. “I was really noticeable, I gave myself a really good look and I rolled the putter apparently nicely. Every moment you are a lot through 11 holes, you put well. I made some nice putts, but also I hit some really good shots. “
The eighth nine was more of the same to begin with. Birdie on no. 10 and birdie on no. 11, and everyone googled whether 54 was ever hit anywhere by anyone, regardless of level, tour or length of course. This man, who shot 80-80-78 consecutive PGA Tour rounds, rolled to 55 or 56, with only a third of the course remaining. A 59 not only seemed to be incorruptible, but it seemed to be the worst possible score he could shoot.
“Of course you start thinking about it, but I was just trying to play one shot at a time,” Johnson said. “I hit it well. I knew that if I could just get myself on the greens and look something like myself, I could definitely have a chance.”
Johnson certainly had chances, as he hit eight more greens on the back nine, but cooled down with five consecutive passes, although some of those par putts on holes 12-16 were fairly coupled given the stakes. Then a two-hole came close that decided if, for the first time ever, two 59s in the same round would be shot.
DJ gave himself an 11-foot look at the par-4 17th that cut to the right, but stayed out. Then he lay on the very accessible par-5 18th, after a mediocre ride in the right back, to 83 yards. An up and down shot should have meant 59, but he hit his approach at 23 feet and could not make the putt.
The 60 was somehow the perfect summary of his entire career. Shots that make you do what you do to see him perform, but ultimately a bit of a letdown, seeing how high he sets your expectations of his own talent. It’s a conundrum, not one he’s concerned about, but one that can be frustrating at times.
“No, [I’m not disappointed], “Said Johnson.” Every time you shoot a number like that you will never disappoint. I absolutely am not. I feel like the game is in good shape. I have to get out tomorrow and do the same. “
Still, just like he has so many times over the course of his Hall of Fame career, Johnson leads the tournament at 15 under. He’s two on Cameron Davis and a guy named Scheffler, who may have cut him on one on Friday, but has work to do to reduce him in the last two days.
