Dustin Johnson confident of inflicting more Presidents Cup pain on Team International
Dustin Johnson won’t feature in the event which will provide a Presidents Cup lead-in for his US teammates, but remains adamant he can repeat his 2017 heroics in Melbourne.
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Former world number one Dustin Johnson knows his repaired left-knee won’t be “100 per cent” for the Presidents Cup at Royal Melbourne next month.
But the big-hitting major champion is confident he’ll be absolutely ready to heap more pain on an International Team he dominated two years ago in New York.
Johnson had arthroscopic surgery just after the Tour Championship in September, an operation he also had on his right knee eight years ago.
He announced on Sunday that he would be withdrawing from the Hero World Challenge in the Bahamas this week, where all 12 members of Tiger Woods’ Team USA were playing, to complete more rehab.
But as he played a round with his brother and caddie, AJ, in Florida last week Johnson told the Herald Sun he would be ready and raring to go at Royal Melbourne.
“Everything is going as good as it can. It’s been 10 weeks since the surgery. I’ve been doing a lot of rehab, and it’s going really good,” Johnson said.
“I’m back healthy, and it’s not 100 per cent, it’s only been 10 weeks, but it’s pretty good.”
Johnson said he hadn’t made any adjustments to his swing to cater for his knee, and was confident that despite not playing an event for more than two months, he would hit Royal Melbourne ready to go.
“I’ve been working on my game at home. That’s enough,” he said.
“I wouldn’t play if I wasn’t going to be ready. I’ve got no issues.
“It’s been nice having time off, but it’s forced time off, which is different than taking time off.”
Johnson was undefeated in the 2017 Presidents Cup in New York, twice teaming up with good friend Brooks Koepka for big wins.
Koepka had to rule himself out after also having surgery, but Johnson said he would team up with “anyone” knowing a win for his country was at stake.
“We’ve been talking about it a little bit. The guys kind of have an idea, but we’ll have to wait and see. I’ll partner with any guy on our team,” he said.
“Whatever team event it is, when you are going to represent your country, you are going out to win. I ain’t travelling all that way to lose, that’s for sure.”
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Johnson said Woods supported his decision to pull out of the Bahamas event to be ready for the Presidents Cup.
“I have informed Captain Woods of my decision, which he fully supports and understands, and cannot wait to tee it up with him and my teammates next week in Australia,” Johnson said.