Dustin Johnson

He adjusted quickly to life on Tour as he showed by winning the 2008 Turning Stone Resort Championship.

Johnson played The Open Championship for the first time at Turnberry in 2009.

A year later he took part in the JP McManus Pro Am and following that huge charity fund raising event, he stayed in Ireland to adjust to the time zone and sample the links experience, including Royal Dublin.

He has since made regular forays to this country prior to Open Championships.

“I try to come over every year a little bit early. I usually go to Dublin and hang out and play.

“I’ve always enjoyed playing links golf. You’ve got to hit all different shots. 

“You’ve got to cut it, you’ve got to draw it, you’ve got to hit it low, you’ve got to hit it high, and I enjoy that,” he said.

The big-hitting Johnson has achieved most of his ambitions.

He has enjoyed long periods as number one in the World rankings, played on successful Ryder Cup and President’s Cup teams with the USA, and, most important, he finally broke his Major Championship hoodoo in the US Open at Oakmont in 2016.

Prior to his breakthrough Johnson held the unenviable record of failing to win the four times he was in a final pairing of a Major – 2010 US Open (finished tied-8), 2010 US PGA Championship (finished tied-5) 2011 US Open (finished tied-2), and the 2015 US Open (finished tied-2).

Arguably, Johnson was overdue a Major. Credit to him, he came from four behind tournament leader Shane Lowry after 54 holes at Oakmont to win his national Open title.