THE 153RD OPEN

July 19, 2025

Dustin Johnson

Mixed Zone

Q. Really solid round today. Is it more you're happy with how solid it was or a little frustration that some of those putts didn't drop?

DUSTIN JOHNSON: Yeah, I played really nicely, gave myself a lot of chances. It's one of those days, hit a lot of really quality golf shots and nothing went in the hole. I hit a lot of good putts too. Just they weren't going in.

Q. You talked about having a really good weekend, it's probably a really good platform tomorrow to go a little lower?

DUSTIN JOHNSON: Today was a day it could have been really low. Missed a couple of short ones for birdie and really didn't hole anything other than the putt on the 1st hole.

It was still a really nice, solid day. I struck it well. I controlled the ball really well. I'm happy with the game. The game is starting to finally come back into form, or I've got some confidence in it. Hitting a lot of good shots.

Q. Speaking of that, D.J., is it gratifying to come here on the weekend, play well today, after how the previous majors have transpired this year?

DUSTIN JOHNSON: I obviously didn't play my best, but didn't play as bad as my scores reflected. Even in the first two -- Masters was the putter. PGA, I think I had more putts there in the first round than I ever have in the first two rounds of golf in my life. But I hit it well.

Obviously Oakmont is -- Oakmont's tough. Played okay, just again didn't really hole any putts and didn't -- every time I missed one, I was severely penalized. Yeah, it was nice, obviously sitting on the cut line yesterday knowing I have to play well the last few holes and did, and then come out today and play really solid.

I'm happy with the game. It's trending in the right direction.

Q. What would you say the one specific thing about how the trend is going lately? Is it the putter?

DUSTIN JOHNSON: It's a little bit of everything. Not swinging at my best. So when I'm swinging well, I know where my misses are. I mean, nobody hits them good all the time. It's impossible. When you're playing well, your misses are good. I think that's the biggest key for me is knowing where I'm going to miss it. If I don't hit a good shot, where it's going to end up. That's just a lot more consistent. Just swinging at it much better, and obviously the short game, putting has gotten a lot better.

Q. You say no one hits it well all the time. Obviously Scottie hits it well all the time. What makes him such a devastating leader in this tournament now? You said someone is going to shoot low today. They're going to need to to catch him, do you think?

DUSTIN JOHNSON: Yeah, but you're still going to need some help because the wind's not really up. It's in a favourable direction. Course isn't playing that tough. Greens are really soft. After all the rain we got yesterday evening.

It's not easy to hole putts, though. I feel like for some reason, maybe where they've got the flags tucked -- they do have them tucked, you've got to with these conditions. Obviously Scottie is playing really solid right now. If you can keep it in the fairway, you can attack the golf course.

Q. You know what it's like to be in that flow state. Do you see that in Scottie right now?

DUSTIN JOHNSON: Yeah, like you said, he takes advantage of the shots when he needs to, and when he misses one, it's in the right spot and getting up-and-down. Or if it's off the tee, it's in the right place, and he leaves himself a chance to always make a lot of 4s. Then the good shots, you capitalize on them.

Q. Knowing Phil as you do, do you think if he becomes this week the oldest player over 50 with the best finish in an Open, do you think that would mean something to him?

DUSTIN JOHNSON: I don't know. You'd have to ask him.

Q. If it were you -- I know you'd be long gone fishing at that point, but what would you think?

DUSTIN JOHNSON: Sure. I don't know.