<p>Top-ranked Dustin Johnson, runner-up in three of golf's past six major events, enters the 84th Masters with confidence thanks to improved putting and greater consistency in his shotmaking.</p>.<p>The 36-year-old American, known best for his long-driving skills and mellow demeanor, captured the Tour Championship in September and took PGA Player of the Year honors after winning three titles following the Covid-19 break that ended in June.</p>.<p>He finished second in August's PGA Championship, shared sixth at the US Open in September at Winged Foot and was a runner-up last week in Houston, building confidence for a run at his second major title and first green jacket.</p>.<p>"Coming off a great year and a good finish last week. Got a lot of confidence in the game," Johnson said Tuesday.</p>.<p>"I feel like I'm playing really well. It's probably the best I've played in my career, but it's more consistent -- my shot shape, my flight and controlling my distance."</p>.<p>Johnson has worked on his short game and putting, two crucial aspects for any winner over the undulating greens of Augusta National.</p>.<p>"I've put in a lot of work on being able to control my distance with wedges, so it's very consistent right now," Johnson said. "I'm very pleased with where the game is at."</p>.<p>Johnson compares it to 2017, when he was a runaway Masters favorite but slipped and fell on stairs in a rented house at Augusta and hurt his back, forcing him to withdraw.</p>.<p>"It's really similar," Johnson said of his form then and now. "I was playing great coming into the Masters. Coming off three starts in a row I won. The game was in really good form."</p>.<p>Johnson has 23 tour triumphs but only one win among 19 top-10 major finishes, that coming at the 2016 US Open. He doesn't feel rushed by Father Time to add to his major trophy total.</p>.<p>"I would love to win a lot more majors. I'd like to get my second one then add on to that. I just need to keep putting myself into situations," Johnson said.</p>.<p>"I've still got a lot more years ahead of me, so I'm not really too stressed about it."</p>.<p>Just like most Masters veterans, he is learning more every year about Augusta National, the course he dreamed about winning on as a youth growing up an hour's drive away.</p>.<p>"I keep getting better and keep getting more comfortable the more times I play it," the 2019 Masters runner-up said.</p>.<p>Johnson says that despite his calm appearance, his emotions churn in the back-nine Sunday major battles.</p>.<p>"I definitely get excited. I can feel it coming down the stretch because I want to win. It means a lot to me," he said.</p>.<p>"I don't know how to explain it other than I'm just really focused on what I'm doing and not really focused on the outcome.</p>.<p>"I've been in this situation enough times on Sundays in majors where I can feed off those experiences and know what to expect.</p>.<p>"As long as the game stays in good form, I'm hopefully going to be around here on Sunday and have a chance to win."</p>
<p>Top-ranked Dustin Johnson, runner-up in three of golf's past six major events, enters the 84th Masters with confidence thanks to improved putting and greater consistency in his shotmaking.</p>.<p>The 36-year-old American, known best for his long-driving skills and mellow demeanor, captured the Tour Championship in September and took PGA Player of the Year honors after winning three titles following the Covid-19 break that ended in June.</p>.<p>He finished second in August's PGA Championship, shared sixth at the US Open in September at Winged Foot and was a runner-up last week in Houston, building confidence for a run at his second major title and first green jacket.</p>.<p>"Coming off a great year and a good finish last week. Got a lot of confidence in the game," Johnson said Tuesday.</p>.<p>"I feel like I'm playing really well. It's probably the best I've played in my career, but it's more consistent -- my shot shape, my flight and controlling my distance."</p>.<p>Johnson has worked on his short game and putting, two crucial aspects for any winner over the undulating greens of Augusta National.</p>.<p>"I've put in a lot of work on being able to control my distance with wedges, so it's very consistent right now," Johnson said. "I'm very pleased with where the game is at."</p>.<p>Johnson compares it to 2017, when he was a runaway Masters favorite but slipped and fell on stairs in a rented house at Augusta and hurt his back, forcing him to withdraw.</p>.<p>"It's really similar," Johnson said of his form then and now. "I was playing great coming into the Masters. Coming off three starts in a row I won. The game was in really good form."</p>.<p>Johnson has 23 tour triumphs but only one win among 19 top-10 major finishes, that coming at the 2016 US Open. He doesn't feel rushed by Father Time to add to his major trophy total.</p>.<p>"I would love to win a lot more majors. I'd like to get my second one then add on to that. I just need to keep putting myself into situations," Johnson said.</p>.<p>"I've still got a lot more years ahead of me, so I'm not really too stressed about it."</p>.<p>Just like most Masters veterans, he is learning more every year about Augusta National, the course he dreamed about winning on as a youth growing up an hour's drive away.</p>.<p>"I keep getting better and keep getting more comfortable the more times I play it," the 2019 Masters runner-up said.</p>.<p>Johnson says that despite his calm appearance, his emotions churn in the back-nine Sunday major battles.</p>.<p>"I definitely get excited. I can feel it coming down the stretch because I want to win. It means a lot to me," he said.</p>.<p>"I don't know how to explain it other than I'm just really focused on what I'm doing and not really focused on the outcome.</p>.<p>"I've been in this situation enough times on Sundays in majors where I can feed off those experiences and know what to expect.</p>.<p>"As long as the game stays in good form, I'm hopefully going to be around here on Sunday and have a chance to win."</p>