Now that he has the “second major” monkey off his back, will the floodgates open for Dustin Johnson?
Fresh off his record-setting win at Augusta National on Sunday, Johnson has already been installed as the favorite to win the 2021 Masters.
In another scheduling first created by to the coronavirus pandemic, Augusta National will play host to consecutive majors – and three in a six-major span. Johnson is the +700 favorite by DraftKings to repeat as Masters champion in five months. That makes him the slight early favorite over Bryson DeChambeau (+800) and Rory McIlroy (+900).
Dustin Johnson continues dominant run
Johnson took advantage of soft November conditions to set a tournament scoring record at 20-under par. Even with the course softened, Johnson won by a comfortable five shots, and that came after tying for second place in 2019.
The 36-year-old firmed his grip on the No. 1 world ranking and further cemented his Hall of Fame resume. It also ended a streak of failing to hold a 54-hole lead at four majors. Johnson’s lone previous major title was a come-from-behind victory at the 2016 U.S. Open.
Johnson finished second at this year’s PGA Championship after Collin Morikawa charged past him with a 64 on Sunday. However, he won the first leg of The Northern Trust with a tournament record 30 under score, won the Tour Championship to claim the FedEx Cup title and tied for second place at the Houston Open after recovering from COVID-19.
He opened the Masters with a 65 and never looked back, as Johnson became the first player to card a pair of 65s in the same week at Augusta National.
Repeat won come easy
DeChambeau was the pre-tournament favorite but struggled with an illness early on and was undone by a wayward driver that led to a double bogey in the first round and a triple bogey in the second. He did rally to make the cut and finished T34 at 2 under – 18 shots behind Johnson.
McIlroy also scrambled to play the weekend after opening with a 75. He went 66-67-69 over the final three rounds to rocket up to a tie for fifth, and actually bettered Johnson by one stroke over the final 54 holes.
The Northern Irishman moved past Morikawa to No. 4 in the official world golf rankings and in April will make his seventh attempt to complete the career grand slam.
Rahm is being offered at +1000 for the 2021 Masters by DraftKings along with Justin Thomas, followed by Brooks Koepka at +1600. Five-time Masters champion Tiger Woods is +2800. He was only four shots off the lead through 36 holes, but faded with a 72 in the third round and then carded a 76 on Sunday that included a career-worst 10 on the par-3 12th hole.
Woods did rally to finish with four consecutive birdies and tied for 38th.