Hometown Hero: Dustin Johnson Takes Over No. 1 Spot in World Golf Rankings

Johnson dominated at famed Riviera Country Club over the weekend, cruising to a 5-stroke victory at the Genesis Open. The win, his 13th on Tour, vaulted Johnson to the top of the Official World Golf Rankings, making him just the 20th player to do so. 

While history will record this as the week DJ took over golf’s top spot, the reality is he has been the best player in the world for much of the last year. 

Since winning the 2016 U.S. Open at Oakmont, Johnson has been dominant, winning four times, all against extremely strong fields. In his last 17 starts, DJ has 14 top 10 finishes, a run that is, dare we say, Tiger-esque. 

Johnson, who starred for the Coastal Carolina University golf team, continues to maintain close ties with the Myrtle Beach area. His namesake foundation and the Dustin Johnson Golf School are based here, and the second annual Dustin Johnson World Junior Golf Championship will be played this weekend at TPC Myrtle Beach. 

While DJ, who just announced he and fiancée Paulina Gretzky are expecting their second child, continues to build on what looks like a Hall of Fame career, he has maintained his strong ties to the Myrtle Beach golf scene.