Maybe Tiger Woods, who won the 2000 U.S. Open by 15 strokes at Pebble Beach Golf Links, was trying to glean some course knowledge from Myrtle Beach resident Dustin Johnson. An 18-hole practice round with the world's No. 1 player and 14-time major champion was part of an eventful Monday for Johnson as he prepares for his third U.S. Open.
Johnson, of course, has won each of the past two PGA Tour events held at Pebble Beach, the 2009 and 2010 AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Ams, though he hasn't played the course under U.S. Open conditions.
“Anytime you can play with a guy who has won as many majors as he has and has the accomplishments he has, it’s very good," Johnson said. "You can learn from him, just the way he goes around the course, and what he does around each green. The putts he’s hitting and where he’s chipping from, you can learn a lot from him.”
A media tour set up by his main sponsor TaylorMade that included live and taped interviews for television stations was also part of Johnson's Monday.
In his previous two U.S. Opens, he tied for 40th last year at Bethpage State Park and tied for 48th in 2008 at Torrey Pines Golf Course.
Johnson is paired with Vijay Singh, who he was playing with when he made consecutive eagles on holes 14 and 15 in the final round of the Masters last year at Augusta National, and Davis Love III. The group tees off in Thursday's first round on the 10th hole at 4:36 p.m. (Eastern) and goes off the first tee Friday at 11:06 a.m.
“I’ve played with both of them a couple times," Johnson said. "I enjoy playing with them. It will be fun and it’s a really good pairing.”
