GOLF:Dustin Johnson will look to put another near-miss in a major behind him when he tees off in the Scandinavian Masters in Sweden today.
The 27-year-old was in contention at Royal St George’s right up until the moment he slapped his second shot at the 14th out of bounds.
It gave Darren Clarke a comfortable route home and meant the American finished joint second with compatriot Phil Mickelson.
Johnson has form for cracking under pressure. At last year’s US Open he led by three after 54 holes and shot 82 as Graeme McDowell claimed his major. And in the US PGA two months later he bogeyed the last for what he thought was a play-off but was given a two-shot penalty for grounding his club on sand.
Having taken the opportunity to play at Bro Hof Slot Golf Club in Stockholm this week, he hopes to be able to play his way away from any bad memories of Sandwich.
“I’m still young, so I’m not really worried about it,” he said. “I just put myself in position and see what happens.”
Watson, as the world’s new number seven, is the highest ranked player in the field – and the favourite – and is returning to Bro Hof Slot for the second successive year.
Fellow American Bubba Watson, who at 14 is the next highest-ranked player, is continuing his European education with a first appearance in Sweden.
The big-hitting Watson found himself attracting all the wrong kind of headlines on his first appearance at a regular European Tour event at the French Open last month when he managed to denigrate the Eiffel Tower and Arc de Triomphe and even the Palace of Versailles, not far from the course.
“I have always wanted to come to Sweden and I have heard so many good things about Stockholm and the track at Bro Hof,” he said. “It will be exciting to play there and to meet the Swedish golf audience.”
Leading the home challenge with be Ryder Cup team-mates Robert Karlsson and Henrik Stenson alongside last year’s winner Richard S Johnson.
THE LOWDOWN
Course: Bro Hof Slott GC, north of Stockholm.
Length: 7,365 yards. Par: 72.
Prize money: €1.5m, €250,000 for the winner
Field: Not as strong as it once was. Graeme McDowell won in only fourth event as a pro in 2001.
Irish: Hoey, McGrane.
Defending champion: Local boy Richard S Johnson.
The layout: Designed by Trent Jones Jnr, opened in 2007. Long, very exposed, lots of water; short 17th has an island green.
On TV: Very little. Sky Sports 10am-noon today and tomorrow.
Weather: Storms today, improving over weekend.
