Dustin Johnson's Participation In The Farmers Insurance Open: Will He Compete?

Dustin Johnson has confirmed his participation in the Farmers Insurance Open. This will be Johnson's tenth appearance at the tournament, which is held at Torrey Pines, and his first since 2017. Johnson, who is currently ranked fourth in the world, is known for taking extended breaks from golf to focus on other priorities such as fishing and spending time with his family. He has expressed frustration with his performance in recent years, citing a lack of consistency in his game. Johnson's return to the PGA Tour marks the end of a hiatus that began in July 2022, when he missed the cut at the RBC Canadian Open and subsequently took time off to address personal issues.

Dustin Johnson's performance at the 2022 Farmers Insurance Open

Dustin Johnson returned to the Farmers Insurance Open in 2022, marking his first appearance at the tournament in five years. Johnson, ranked fourth in the world, took an extended break from golf prior to the event, citing frustration with his inconsistent performance in the previous year.

The 2022 Farmers Insurance Open was hosted at Torrey Pines, a course that Johnson associates with bad weather. In an interview, Johnson recalled his previous experiences at Torrey Pines, including his most recent visit in 2017 when he missed the cut. Johnson's best finish at the Farmers Insurance Open was a tie for third place in the 2011 event.

Despite his past struggles at Torrey Pines, Johnson maintained a positive attitude and was eager to compete. He acknowledged the challenging nature of the course, particularly the narrow fairways, but remained confident in his abilities. Johnson's performance in the 2022 Farmers Insurance Open was highly anticipated, as he sought to recapture the magic that led him to victory in major tournaments earlier in his career.

Johnson's participation in the 2022 Farmers Insurance Open was part of his comeback after a disappointing 2021 season. He had taken a three-month break from golf to refocus and work on his game. During this break, Johnson indulged in fishing and spent time with his family.

The 2022 Farmers Insurance Open also stood out due to its unusual scheduling. Unlike most PGA Tour tournaments, it started on a Wednesday and concluded on Saturday to avoid conflicting with the NFL's Conference Championship games. Johnson commented on this change, stating that the length of the tournament remained the same despite the altered start day.

Johnson's break from golf before the 2022 Open

Dustin Johnson took a three-month break from golf before the 2022 Farmers Insurance Open. Johnson, who was ranked fourth in the world, had become frustrated with his inconsistent performances in 2021. He had not won a tournament in his previous 20 PGA Tour events, his longest drought since 2015-2016.

In an interview before the Farmers Insurance Open, Johnson said:

> It was frustrating to me just because I just wasn't consistent. Obviously, I put a lot of good rounds together, but I just couldn't put four rounds together. It felt like when I was hitting the driver good, I wasn't hitting my irons very well. If I was hitting my irons well, I wasn't driving it good. Just nothing was matching up. It just gets frustrating when you do it for eight months straight. Especially after like the fall I had the year before, it was really frustrating.

Johnson also revealed that he took a break from golf to wait for a new driver, saying:

> I really like [the new TaylorMade Stealth driver]. So that was one reason why I wasn't playing or took a break, until I could get the new driver and start practicing with it.

During his break, Johnson prioritised fishing and spending time at home with his fiancée (now wife) Paulina Gretzky and their two children.

Johnson's pairing with Tiger Woods and Jason Day

Dustin Johnson, Tiger Woods, and Jason Day were paired together for the first two rounds of the 2017 Farmers Insurance Open. Johnson, the World No. 3 at the time, was making his return to the PGA Tour after a break. He had previously taken time off to address personal issues and welcome his first child with his partner, Paulina Gretzky. Johnson was looking forward to getting his career back on track after a disappointing run of form.

Woods, meanwhile, was making his first official PGA Tour start in 17 months, having recovered from two back surgeries. The Torrey Pines course held good memories for Woods, who had won there eight times as a professional, including his famous 2008 U.S. Open victory. Woods said he was "nervous but [...] ready" for the tournament, which would be the first of four events in five weeks for him.

Day, the World No. 1 at the time, rounded off the star trio. He had won the Farmers Insurance Open in 2015 and was excited to play with Woods, a good friend of his, after the latter's long absence from the sport.

Despite the excitement surrounding the marquee pairing, none of the three players made it past the cut. Johnson finished the third round of the tournament tied for 13th, while Day was tied for first with Will Zalatoris.

Johnson's return to the PGA Tour

Dustin Johnson's return to the PGA Tour at the 2022 Farmers Insurance Open marked his first competitive appearance since the previous year's RBC Canadian Open, where he missed the cut and subsequently took a leave of absence to address personal issues. Johnson, ranked World No. 4 at the time, was paired with Tiger Woods and Jason Day for the first two rounds of the tournament, attracting significant attention.

The Farmers Insurance Open held special significance for Johnson, as it was his 10th appearance at the event and his first since 2017. Johnson had previously expressed frustration with his performance in 2021, where he struggled with consistency in his game despite some notable successes, including nine top-10 finishes in 21 starts and an impressive showing at the Ryder Cup. Johnson's return to the PGA Tour was also notable due to speculation about a possible suspension for failing drug tests, which was denied by both Johnson and the Tour.

The Torrey Pines course brought back mixed memories for Johnson, who recalled challenging weather conditions during his previous visits. He was determined to put those memories behind him and recapture the magic that led to his major wins in the 2016 U.S. Open and the 2020 Masters. Johnson took a three-month break prior to the tournament, during which he focused on activities like fishing and spending time with his family.

Johnson's performance in the 2022 Farmers Insurance Open was solid, as he made a birdie on the par-5 18th hole in the third round and finished the day tied for 13th. While Johnson faced a challenging course that didn't match his playing conditions at home in Florida, he embraced the opportunity to assess the state of his game. With a new driver in hand and a refreshed mindset, Johnson was eager to tackle the demanding South Course and get his career back on track.

Johnson's performance at Torrey Pines in the past

Dustin Johnson has not had much success at Torrey Pines in the past. In 2016, he was three shots off the lead entering the final round, but terrible weather conditions—including driving rain and wind gusts of up to 49 mph—marred his performance. He ended up 8 over through 14 holes and carded an 80, one of the worst rounds of his career. Johnson has also missed the cut at Torrey Pines three times, including in 2017, when he shot 72-74.

However, Johnson has also had some bright spots at Torrey Pines. In 2022, he made birdie on the par-5 18th hole in the third round of the Farmers Insurance Open, finishing at 10 under for the tournament and tied for 13th place. This was Johnson's 10th appearance at the tournament, with his best finish being a tie for third in 2011.

In 2015, Johnson made his return to the PGA Tour at Torrey Pines after a hiatus. He played the South Course and was two-over through 17 holes before play was suspended. He ended his day with a birdie, saying he felt "a little rusty" but that it was "good to be back."

Overall, Johnson's performance at Torrey Pines has been mixed, with some strong finishes but also some disappointing results.

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