'Number 2' Johnson "Impatient"... What About 'Runner-up Jinx' Oosthuizen?

Right After The Open, Immediate 3M Open Appearance: Duel with Oosthuizen, Top-Rankers Rahm and Morikawa Rest, Lee Kyoung-hoon Leads Korea

World No. 2 Dustin Johnson will immediately compete in the 3M Open right after The Open, aiming for his second win of the season.

[Asia Economy Kim Hyun-jun, Golf Specialist Reporter] The world No. 2 Dustin Johnson (USA) is feeling the pressure.

Last year, he swept up a total of four wins, including three in the 2020 season and one in the 2021 season, and even recorded the lowest winning score in history (20-under 268) at the ‘Autumn Masters’ in November. However, this year, he has only managed three top-10 finishes in 13 tournaments. He suffered the humiliation of missing the cut while defending his title at the Masters in April, and withdrew due to knee pain just before the AT&T Byron Nelson in May, among other injuries. Fortunately, after dedicated rehabilitation, he has entered revival mode with a tie for 10th place at the Palmetto Championship in May.

Johnson’s reason for immediately returning to the U.S. after the 149th Open, the last major of the 2021 season, and competing in the PGA Tour’s 3M Open (total prize money $6.6 million) starting on the night of the 22nd (Korean time) at Twin Cities Golf Club in Blaine, Minnesota (par 71, 7,431 yards) is clear. With top-ranked players like No. 1 Jon Rahm (Spain), Collin Morikawa, and U.S. ‘Tokyo Olympic members’ Justin Thomas, Xander Schauffele, Bryson DeChambeau, and Brooks Koepka all resting, his chances of winning have increased.

Louis Oosthuizen is making a comeback to victory at the 3M Open.

Louis Oosthuizen (South Africa) is in a similar situation. He led throughout the first three rounds of the Open but faltered with a 1-over par on the final day, allowing Morikawa to overtake him. After finishing runner-up consecutively at the second major PGA Championship in May and the third major US Open in June, his ‘wire-to-wire’ victory slipped away this time. Having finished second three times, including at the Zurich Classic in April, he has chosen a rigorous schedule to shake off the persistent ‘runner-up jinx.’

Experts highly praise Oosthuizen’s consistency, noting that he has finished in the top 3 four times in his last six tournaments, making him the top favorite to win. Defending champion Michael Thompson is dreaming of back-to-back wins. Matthew Wolff (both USA), the 2019 winner, is challenging to reclaim the top spot after two years. Leading the Korean contingent is Lee Kyung-hoon (30), the AT&T Byron Nelson champion, with An Byeong-hun (30), Kang Sung-hoon (34, both CJ Logistics), and Bae Sang-moon (35) also looking for opportunities.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.