Dustin Johnson Proves There’s A New Sheriff In Town

The best player in the world today, right now, at this moment in time is Dustin Johnson.

The Official World Golf Rankings tell us he’s No. 2 behind Jason Day and ahead of Jordan Spieth but we all know better.

After winning the U.S. Open last month then coming from behind to take the WGC-Bridgestone last week from Jason Day, we know who is really No. 1.

Former professional wrestler Ric Flair was famous for saying: “If you wanna be the man, you gotta BEAT the man.”

Well, Dustin Johnson beat “the man” Sunday by shooting 66 while “the man” Jason Day showed some major vulnerability in his game with that gag-job of a double-bogey at the 16th hole and just before that, he missed a nervous four-foot, seven-inch par putt. The number one player in the world is not supposed to let that happen.

Day did, Johnson did not.

Perhaps the most imposing statement that came out of D.J.’s 11th victory was this:

“I feel like if I hit it in the fairway, I’m gonna be really tough to beat.”

Amen to that.

Johnson is not only driving it in the fairways, he’s driving it monstrously long.

Butch Harmon has spent a lot of time making Johnson a better wedge player and it shows. Johnson has polished his putting stroke and it shows. Harmon’s son, Claude III, has continued to give Johnson a lot of time and attention and it shows.

One benefit of winning that first major is that Johnson appears more relaxed in the heat of the fight and he admitted it after chasing down Day. “I felt pretty relaxed on the back nine, more than I used to,” Johnson said and that’s bad news for everyone else.

At 6-4, 195, Johnson’s long arms send his drives into a different dimension. He can chew-up and spit out 7,400-yard golf courses and when he sets foot on Royal Troon, he will see a 7,200 yards course that might be there for the taking if his current form continues into next week.

Plus, more bad news — D.J. is making putts.

“I’m making the putts I’m supposed to make. That’s the big difference in me finishing top fives that I’ve had this year to winning a few,” he said in Akron.

What this all adds up to is that D.J. is bearing down hard on Day’s No. 1 spot and Day did nothing last Sunday to stop it.

Johnson took what was Day’s and you would think the top ranking could be next.

There is no one playing better going into the Open Championship and Johnson has heart-break history in that event. But when you consider he left the ultimate heart-break (2015 U.S. Open) in the circular file, there’s no reason he can’t win the Claret Jug.

When you consider the PGA is just two weeks after the Open Championship, it’s not far-fetched thinking to consider that D.J. could win the final three majors of 2016.

“The goal is to get to that No. 1 spot,” D.J. says.

Hear that Jason Day?

“I’ve still got a lot of work to do to get there,” Johnson advised. “It’s not just getting there, you want to stay there. I’m looking forward to the challenge.”

Yes, friends, there IS a new sheriff in town.

And he’s coming for you, Jason Day.