THE 152ND OPEN

July 20, 2024

Dustin Johnson

Mixed Zone

Q. Probably had a lot of fun out there today, you and Brooks.

DUSTIN JOHNSON: No, obviously it is what it is. The conditions though from -- it started raining when we were on the 1st hole, and it's still raining, which actually made the front nine even -- it played a little tricky, especially when we first started because it just started to rain. I mean, the balls were taking such a huge hop because they were skidding. I felt like I played really, really good golf, and I shot 1-over.

Obviously doubling 17 was -- but, I mean, the back nine, that's the hardest nine holes I think you could ever play in golf right now, into the wind and rain -- I mean, it's so long I could barely reach -- the par-4s, I had to smash 2 to get there, same with Brooks. That's how long it was playing.

It's tough. Obviously I would have liked to have finished at even-par. I think I would have been pretty close to the lead by the end of the day.

But still sitting at 2-over, never know what's going to happen. Obviously 3-under is in the house leading, so not going to be too far back. You just never know.

Q. You had the only birdie, I think, of the group, if I recall.

DUSTIN JOHNSON: It was very difficult out there. Like I said, even on the front. I missed some short putts on the front for birdie. I had a lot of good shots. I had a lot of good looks, good look on 8, 9 -- 7, 8, 9, 6, 4. I had really good looks. I hit pretty good putts.

Obviously warming up, it was dry. Then you get out there, and you've kind of got to adjust through the round on the speed of the greens. It just made it kind of tough. Obviously made a long one there on 14, but other than that, I really didn't make much, but played really good golf.

Q. Given if the conditions are like this tomorrow, I don't know how close you're going to be to the lead after today, is it tougher to rally in these kind of conditions, or do you feel you might have a chance?

DUSTIN JOHNSON: No. Obviously you never know what the conditions are going to be tomorrow. The forecast was pretty spot on today. Said it was going to start raining at 2:00 and rain for the rest of the day. I don't think it's supposed to rain this hard, but it is what it is. This is The Open.

I felt like I played really, really well. Can't really complain about -- 1-over is not a bad score. Obviously with the double on 17 was really the -- but that was about as high as I could have shot. I played better golf than that. It was just tough.

Q. Obviously you've come a long way. A lot of the golfers come from America, and when it's like this, is it part of the charm of The Open, or does it really piss you off? Do you think some of them, why am I going to bother?

DUSTIN JOHNSON: I mean, it's The Open. It doesn't make you mad. You've got to play with what you get. But you see the guys go out this morning with sunshine and shooting really good scores, then you know. But that's part of it. It happens all the time here. You've just got to be prepared for the conditions.

I felt like I did a good job managing them and playing really solid golf, but we'll see what happens here.

Q. Was it your family that was in Saint-Tropez?

DUSTIN JOHNSON: My wife. My wife is. She's laughing at me probably.