Dustin Johnson - © Keith Allison via Wikimedia Commons

Without the presence of his fans to give him emotions on the final stretch of the Travelers Championship, and with an hour of rain to stop all the momentum, Johnson had to be content to go around TPC River Highlands and play the 72nd hole to win his first victory after more than a year. But it was not a stress free experience ...

Dustin Johnson started the day two strokes behind Brendon Todd, but when the last group got to the 13th tee it looked like it was the end of the tournament for Dustin Johnson. There followed a beautiful end to the match for the former world number 1: despite a drive out of bounds on the 13, the feet in the water on the 15, a narrow miss on the 16, Johnson finally does just enough to beat Kevin Streelman all at once.

"It was huge because I hadn't played very well"said Dustin Johnson. “But I've done a lot of good work the last few weeks after Colonial, so it's nice to see the game start to fall into place. "

Collapses come in different shapes and sizes depending on skill level. For a player of Johnson's caliber, a lull can be a career year for many others. But he hadn't won since the WGC-Mexico Championship more than 16 months ago, and this week he placed outside the world top 5 for the first time since his triumph at the US Open.

A 61 on Saturday put him in the race, and he's now extended a remarkable streak. Dustin Johnson has won at least once in every PGA Tour season since his first year in 2008, with the only caveat that he did not win in 2014 but maintained the streak with a victory at the WGC-HSBC Champions in the fall of the 2013-14 season.

“Winning the US Open at Oakmont is my biggest win, for sure. But winning 13 (seasons) in a row on the Tour is quite an important achievement ”said Johnson. "You know, they're pretty close to what I'm most proud of. "

Dustin Johnson's driving shot at No.13 ultimately cost him just one hit, which he birdied on the next hole. His drive on 15 court seemed to be heading for the water, but he stayed dry, which helped him maintain his two-stroke lead when the rain interrupted play. He made a bogey and two starts once. that play resumed, signing a 67 (-3) card to end the week at 19 under under par.

Dustin Johnson was slowed down by knee surgery last fall, failing to make an official start between the Tour Championship and the Sentry Tournament of Champions. He was second in Saudi Arabia, but has been quiet this year, including missing the cut at the Colonial and finishing in T-17 last week at RBC Heritage.

But it took just one gesture to remind the world of the potential that lies in a man who counts like Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson among the active players with the most victories on the PGA Tour. With a one-stroke lead over Narrow 18, Dustin Johnson split the fairway in two, propelling his drive to 320 yards signaling the end of the tournament.

He may not have made the headlines in recent weeks, and his blood pressure may not have risen despite the drama that happened down the stretch, but Dustin Johnson once showed plus why he remains the most consistent winner of the Tour, and a player who can go the distance on any type of course.

The winning streak continues, and when a reporter asked him if he had ever had a "Whole season of bad golf", Dustin Johnson gave an eloquent answer.

" I do not think so "he replied. “And I hope I won't start anytime soon. "

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To consult our last article on the same subject :

Travelers Championship 2020: Rory McIlroy on fire in the 1st round