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Johnson's rise to the top of world golf

It's been far from a smooth ride, but American Dustin Johnson has usurped Australian Jason Day as the No.1 player in world golf.

DUSTIN JOHNSON'S RISE FROM GOLF'S OUTHOUSE TO THE PENTHOUSE:

*June, 2010 - Johnson takes a three-stoke lead into the final round of the US Open at Pebble Beach, but crashes out of contention with an 11-over-par 82.

*August, 2010 - Leads the final round of the US PGA Championship at Whistling Straits with one hole to play, but is given a two-stroke penalty for grounding his club in a bunker. He ties for fifth.

* August, 2014 - Johnson announces he is taking the rest of the year off to deal with "personal challenges", amid unconfirmed rumours he tested positive for cocaine use.

* January, 2015 - His partner, Paulina Gretzky - daughter of ice hockey great Wayne Gretzky - gives birth to son Tatum Gretzky Johnson.

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* February, 2015 - Having slipped to No.23 in the world, Johnson returns to the PGA Tour, missing the cut at the Farmers Insurance Open.

* March, 2015 - Wins the WGC-Cadillac Championship, his ninth win on the PGA Tour, but first in 16 months.

* June, 2015 - Reaches a career high of world No.3 after a runner-up finish at the US Open. However, Johnson had two putts to win and three-putted for par, handing Jordan Spieth the title.

* June, 2016 - Wins the US Open at Oakmont by three strokes, but not without another rules drama. Johnson is informed midway through the final round that he has been penalised one stroke for his golf ball moving on the fifth green. The USGA later apologises for its controversial handling of the ruling.

* July, 2016 - Johnson wins the 2016 WGC-Bridgestone Invitational and forges a career-high ranking of world No.2.

* September, 2016 - Wins the BMW Championship, the third event of the FedEx Cup playoffs series.

* February, 2017 - Wins the Genesis Open at Riviera Country Club in Los Angeles by five shots and takes Australian Jason Day's world No.1 ranking.


2 min read

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Source: AAP



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