World No.1 Dustin Johnson believes his world-beating form has given him the confidence to finally slay his demons at the Players Championship - and the world's best players agree.
Though the tall, big-hitting American has been on a tear since winning the 2016 US Open, Johnson has never finished inside the top-25 in eight previous starts at TPC Sawgrass.
But with three wins, including two World Golf Championships, and a runner-up finish in his past four starts, the 32-year-old says he's ready to turn around his form at his previously unhappy hunting ground.
"I haven't had a lot of success here and it's definitely a challenge, but my game has gotten a lot better (since 2016). If I'm going to play well here, this is the time," said Johnson, who owns five victories since claiming his maiden major championship at Oakmont in June.
World No.2 Rory McIlroy, who has watched 'DJ' not only end Australian Jason Day's 47-week reign as world No.1 but build a five-point lead atop the rankings, sees no signs of Johnson slowing down.
Four-time major winner McIlroy put Johnson's purple patch down to his ice-cool demeanour.
"(Dustin) just keeps doing it. He's been so impressive with three wins before the Masters and I can't see him dropping off because I don't think anything fazes him," said McIlroy, himself a former world No.1.
Jordan Spieth, the 2015 Masters and US Open winner, predicted Johnson would become a multiple major champion in the near future.
"The US Open (win) last year was floodgates opening. I would expect him to win a couple more majors somewhat soon. It's tough to beat him right now the way he's driving the ball and the way he's putting," said Spieth.
Newly-crowned Masters champion Sergio Garcia has emerged as Johnson's likeliest challenger, at least at this week.
The Spaniard vanquished nearly two decades of major championship dramas when he bagged his first one at Augusta National in April, ending a 73-0 winless drought in golf's four big dances.
In his first hit-out since defeating England's Justin Rose in a nail-biting Masters playoff, Garcia will no doubt draw on his stellar record at TPC Sawgrass.
The 37-year-old Garcia has a victory in 2008 among a whopping six top-10s and nine top-25s from 17 Players appearances.
"It's a course that I love, and I've been lucky enough to do well here," Garcia said.
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