Johnson’s opening round sinks on 17th at TPC Sawgrass

For just the second time in his 19 rounds in The Players Championship dating back to his rookie year of 2008, Dustin Johnson was felled by the perilously scintillating par-3 17^th hole at TPC Sawgrass.

Johnson walked onto the tee of the famous island-green par-3 at 3-under par and just two shots off the lead in Thursday’s first round of the 42^nd Players.

After having his ball land in the water just shy of the bulkheaded green, Johnson walked off the 17^th green at even par and he made par on the 18^th to finish at even-par 72.

The splash down on 17 and resulting triple bogey dropped the Coastal Carolina alumnus from what would have been a tie for 11^th just two shots off the lead at 3 under to a tie for 60^th.

The hole was playing just 123 yards with a front pin placement into a stern wind. After his 9-iron found the water, Johnson re-teed and hit a pitching wedge 32 feet behind the hole. He left his first downhill putt 4 feet short and lipped out his putt for double bogey.

“I just chunked it, and I hit the wrong club too,” Johnson explained. “I was trying to like chip a 9-iron and I should have hit what I did the second time which was a wedge. Then I think I was just a little frustrated. My first putt I just thought it was a little faster. The second putt I hit a good putt it just didn't break. I hit it a little firm.”

After taking a penalty stroke, Johnson could have opted to hit his third shot into the green from a drop area that was 77 yards from the pin and is ahead and to the left of the 17^th tee.

”I prefer the drop zone but it's a short shot into the wind. It's not very easy,” Johnson said. “So I figured I had a better chance of not hitting a bad shot from the tee box. I already hit one in the water, I was just like, ‘Let's just hit it on the green and get out of here.’ Oh we'll, [stuff] happens. … I'd rather do it on Thursday than Sunday.”

Johnson wasn’t alone in his misery on the 17^th Thursday. His tee shot was one of 21 shots that found the water on the 17^th, including those of J.B. Holmes and Hunter Mahan in the trio directly in front of Johnson’s group. There were a total of 28 shots into the water in last year’s Players, the lowest number since at least 2003.

Though the 17^th hasn’t been Johnson’s bugaboo in past years, he’s still trying to master TPC Sawgrass in general.

Johnson is seeking his first top-30 finish in the Players Championship in his seventh appearance, and was on his way to just his second score in the 60s in 19 tournament rounds following a birdie on the par-5 16^th hole. He made four birdies, a bogey on the par-5 11^th and the triple Thursday.

“I'd like to make a few more putts, but I thought I played pretty solid,” Johnson said. “I hit a lot of good shots and when I got out of position I got back in and made some good up-and-downs.

“Just two bad holes – 11 and 17 – other than that I thought played really well, drove it pretty good too, so I'm happy with it, I just have to get after it tomorrow.”

Johnson kept his round from getting off to a negative start with a 12-foot putt on the first hole to save a par after his approach shot bounced over an elevated green with a back pin.

“That was a really good up and down to get the day started,” Johnson said. “That's always important.”

Johnson then birdied the 532-yard par-5 second hole after a 337-yard drive and approach to 13 feet. His eagle putt was left hanging on the front lip.

”I hit two good shots on No. 2. I don't know how that ball stopped. It was downhill, down grain and it was halfway hanging over the hole. How that didn't go in I don't know.”

Johnson then birdied the 177-yard par-3 third hole with a tee shot to 2 feet, and closed out the front nine with another birdie on the 583-yard par-5 ninth with a wedge to 12 feet to make the turn with a 3-under 33.

Johnson bogeyed the 558-yard 11^th after hitting his drive into native grasses to the left of the fairway, punch out into a fairway bunker and third shot into a greenside bunker, then got the stroke back with a 333-yard drive to set up an up-and-down birdie before the fateful 17^th.

Johnson hit 8 of 14 greens in regulation and 12 of 18 greens, and after a quick start with the putter it cooled off, as he was unable to hole six putts between 10 and 19 feet, as well as a couple 23-footers.

“The greens are tough. They're tricky,” Johnson said. “They're hard to get good reads on. They're [in] perfect [condition]. I just have to roll it a little better and get a little better reads.”

This story was originally published May 7, 2015 at 10:16 PM with the headline "Johnson’s opening round sinks on 17th at TPC Sawgrass."