THE PLAYERS CHAMPIONSHIP

March 12, 2022

Dustin Johnson

TPC Sawgrass

Quick Quotes

Q. Dustin, how were the conditions?

DUSTIN JOHNSON: Yeah, it was difficult. Yeah, obviously, it's really windy. It's just hard to judge the distance, but I felt like I played pretty well. Just played the par-5s terribly. Obviously birdied the last, but I doubled 16, which was playing easy, and bogeyed 2, which they're both ^ out at the right, which is probably two of the easiest holes we played all day, but played them 3-over.

Other than that, I played them really well. I'm happy with where I'm sitting.

Q. When it is this windy, do you feel some added pressure to take advantage of the holes that are downwind?

DUSTIN JOHNSON: You need to take advantage of -- yeah, definitely the holes where you're getting some help. It doesn't matter if they're short or long, they're just playing really difficult. Yeah, today was obviously a tough day. You just got to hit quality golf shots.

Q. D.J., when you walked out there on 17 and your ball is already on the green, did you feel a little fortunate that you were able to hit the tee shot? I know it was not great weather yesterday, but at least you were on the green when you started the day.

DUSTIN JOHNSON: Yeah, for sure. But obviously too, I had to hit a putt and go up and tee off on 18. So it really didn't get much easier.

Q. What was your second on 18?

DUSTIN JOHNSON: When?

Q. This morning, the first time around.

DUSTIN JOHNSON: 3-iron, and then this afternoon 4-iron.

Q. How far?

DUSTIN JOHNSON: I hit a really nice shot this afternoon too. I hit a good shot this morning, just hung right about three feet too far right.

Q. Do you remember the last time you hit a 3-iron on a par-4?

DUSTIN JOHNSON: Yeah, I do. It was 12 at Monterey. I can remember because it doesn't happen very often.

Q. How nerve-racking was the tee shot at 17 today compared to any other nerve-racking shot?

DUSTIN JOHNSON: The wind was blowing so hard. In the air, I was telling my ball to sit because I felt like it was -- just the way it flew, it was going to go long. Obviously, it wasn't even close to going long. Yeah, just really tough conditions, tough to judge distance.

Q. How far did you play?

DUSTIN JOHNSON: I don't know. It was 138, and I hit 118 front, which is really the only number we were kind of looking at. I hit a pretty good 8-iron with a low draw.

Q. How far would that go normally?

DUSTIN JOHNSON: I don't know, 65 probably. It was kind of a chip but yeah.

Q. Did you enjoy yourself today?

DUSTIN JOHNSON: For the most part, I did. Days like today, I don't mind. They're really tough, but I like the tough conditions. Like I said, I played really well. Three-putted 16 for double. Obviously, that was -- played 16 and 2, but take those two holes away, even just take pars on them, it's a really solid round.

Q. Looks like you kind of got the bad end of the draw, which happens. Any part of you looks forward to the cut being made so you can have 36 holes at kind of an even start?

DUSTIN JOHNSON: No matter what, it's going to be cold. The wind's still going to be blowing tomorrow. It's not going to be blowing as hard, but yeah, might have the bad side of the draw, but still have 36 holes to play after they make the cut. Even being at 2-under, I don't think I'm going to be too far behind.

Even if someone goes out and plays really well tomorrow, still won't be that far back. I don't think. Obviously, who knows. I'm happy with my position.