When Dustin Johnson powered his way to a maiden Major at Oakmont in 2016, it felt like the floodgates had opened. A decade of near-misses was finally behind him, and with his raw athleticism and unflappable demeanour, many tipped the American to dominate the game’s biggest stages.
Fast forward to 2025, and the narrative has shifted dramatically.
9 Year since Oakmont Glory
Since slipping on the U.S. Open crown nine years ago, Johnson has missed the cut in nine of his last 28 Major starts—including five of his last seven. This season alone, he bowed out early at Augusta and again at the PGA Championship, where he posted rounds of 74-78 at Quail Hollow.
“He’s still got all the tools,” said former Tour pro and analyst Colt Knost. “But the consistency just isn’t there anymore. He can shoot 64 one day and 78 the next.”
Have we seen the last of Johnson?
The 2020 Masters triumph remains a shining light in the post-Oakmont era, but Johnson’s drop in form has coincided with a shift away from the PGA Tour and into LIV Golf. While he’s enjoyed success in the team format, his individual game seems to have lost the ruthless edge that once made him World No.1.
“I don’t play as much as I used to,” Johnson admitted earlier this year. “But I still believe I can win. That hasn’t changed.”
Does he still have gas in the tank?
Now 40, Johnson returns to Oakmont for the 2025 U.S. Open ranked outside the world’s top 150 and looking to prove there’s still fire in the tank.
“He’s a horse for a tough track,” said 2008 champion Geoff Ogilvy. “If there’s anywhere he can flip the switch, it’s Oakmont.”
But with another missed cut potentially looming, and his Major exemption window narrowing, DJ needs more than nostalgia—he needs a performance to silence the doubters.
