Johnson breaks Tiger’s Sherwood course record

He might not have been sighted for several months but there is nothing the matter with Dustin Johnson’s golf game.

The big-hitting American has been conspicuous by his absence since quitting the US PGA tour to tackle “personal issues” at the end of July.

Dustin Johnson (Credit: www.golffile.ie)

Yet Johnson’s golf game certainly hasn’t gone ‘south’.

Last week he broke Tiger Woods’ course record at the prestigious Sherwood Country Club, shooting a 61 while playing alongside his future in-laws Wayne and Janet Gretzky, who are members at Sherwood.

Johnson, who is engaged to Paulina Gretzky, recently announced the couple were also having a baby.

But he took his A-game to Sherwood and went out in five-under par 31 after five birdies and four pars.

He added five more birdies and an eagle as well as one bogey on the back nine, to shoot an 11-under-par 61.

No doubt the Tour will be keen to see him return to action following an enforced six-month leave of absence for allegedly failing his third drug test.

To put Johnson’s superb round into perspective, Woods has twice shot 62 at Sherwood, with his most recent low score there being at the 2013 Northwestern Mutual World Challenge. Sherwood hosted Woods’ World Challenge event from 2000-2013.

This year the event has been re-named Hero World Challenge and is switching to the Isleworth Golf and Country Club in Orlando this December.

Woods is desperate to be fit enough to play in his own event.

As for Johnson – he won’t be seen back on tour until after the birth of his child.