Dustin Johnson Is Getting His Swagger Back

Dustin Johnson, a model of almost metronomic consistency, has accrued $74 million in prize money over his career on golf’s top circuit. DJ has recorded victories in each of his first 14 seasons on the PGA Tour and if he keeps the streak rolling for three more, he’ll match Nicklaus’ and Palmer’s shared record.

Known to be one of the most unflappable players in the game, the Coastal Carolina alum’s ability to keep a cool head through thick and thin has often been credited as one of Johnson’s X-factors but he downplays the notion and doesn’t feel there is an archetypal personality type best suited for high stakes golf.

“Everybody is going to be different. Some guys are emotional on the golf course and it works for them. For me I just try to stay focused on what I’m doing and not get too excited or too down and just keep going,” Johnson explains, adding that when he gets into trouble, he won’t let a bad shot dampen his mood.

“I try not to let it get me too mad. A lot of times I just laugh at it. It’s definitely not going to be the first bad shot I’ve hit and it’s definitely not going to be the last. Especially when I’m in a tournament, I try not to let it bother me at all. Just hit it, go find it, and hit it again,” Johnson says.

The bearded birdie-machine did snap one of his more impressive iron man runs last month when he briefly dipped outside of the official world golf rankings top-10 for the first time in seven years. Johnson did battle right back into the mix though thanks to a 4^th place showing at the WGC-Dell Technologies Match Play which he followed up by a very respectable T12 finish at the Masters.

In the afterglow of the Ryder Cup, DJ had been in a bit of a dry spell. A 9^th place showing at the Players Championship was his top result in a five-start run that also included multiple duds: an uncharacteristic missed cut at the Genesis Invitational, a T45 at the CJ Cup and a T39 at the Valspar Championship. The last time he’s topped a leaderboard was in February of 2021 when he won the Saudi International, his 9^th European Tour victory.

“Over the last year, I just haven’t really played my best. I’ve been sprinkling in good rounds here and there but not consistent enough golf and that’s really the difference. To win out on tour you got to put four good rounds together,” Johnson says, who adds that he’s been gaining confidence and hitting more quality golf shots of late.

“I’m starting to drive it a little better, hitting some better iron shots. The wedge game is starting to turn around, it’s kind of collectively getting better and definitely trending in the right direction,” he says.

Off the course it’s been smooth sailing of late in DJ’s business dealings. DJ hitched his wagon to a winner in BodyArmor back in 2016 when he came on as a brand ambassador and savvily also took an equity stake, the size of which has never been disclosed.

This past November Coca-Cola ponied up $5.6 billion in an all cash deal to take full control of the beverage play—they initially paid $300 million for 15% of the company in 2018. The deal is the largest brand acquisition in Coke history, eclipsing the $4.1 billion they paid to acquire vitamin water maker Glaceau in 2007. The late Kobe Bryant served on the beverage maker’s board and his $6 million stake in the company grew into a roughly $400 million windfall for his estate as a result of the deal. DJ feels the coconut-water infused beverage’s health halo will power the brand up the energy drink leaderboard.

“Gatorade has been around for a longtime but BodyArmor is right behind them and doing very well. I think more and more parents and kids are starting to understand how much better BodyArmor is for you with no artificial flavors or sweeteners. It has got a lot of potassium, electrolytes—all the things you need for sports and to stay hydrated—and it’s actually good for you to drink. I think it’s starting to catch on and it’s going to keep catching on,” Johnson, who appears in the brand’s latest commercial chipping balls with his brother and caddie Austin, says.

DJ also is set to be in Netflix’s upcoming PGA Tour docuseries from the creative team behind the F1 series Drive To Survive, often credited with catapulting American viewership of the premiere global racing series.

“I am a fan of the Formula 1 show. I watch it and I think it’s really good. It got me really involved in Formula 1 and I think it could be really good for golf to bring in a new fanbase of people who don’t really follow it, but if they watch the Netflix series they may start,” Johnson enthuses.

As for whether golf fans will catch a different side of DJ than the stoic, ball striking workhorse with 24 PGA Tour victories under his belt, he hasn’t logged enough time in with the crew yet to offer an informed opinion. Johnson did imply that it is possible we may catch a glimpse of his softer, fun-loving side—the dude known to backflip off boats and the dad who dotes over his two boys.