SPRINGFIELD, N.J. – Dustin Johnson stood in the Baltusrol Golf Club parking lot and could only muster a half-hearted shake of the head as he recounted for a handful of reporters his startling opener at the PGA Championship.
“Just a rough day,” he said. “Anything that can go wrong, did.”
Johnson was considered one of the tournament favorites entering the week, having won the U.S. Open just six weeks ago and having captured the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational in his very next start.
But the awe-inspiring play that guided him to wins at Oakmont and Firestone wasn’t on display Thursday in New Jersey, where Johnson ballooned to a 7-over 77.