Dustin Johnson’s arm being twisted to play in Irish Open
Johnson came from five shots back at the start of Sunday’s last day to win in his fifth event this new season after a mysterious six month self-imposed lay-off from the game.
If agreeable the 30-year old Johnson, who was greeted on the final green by fiancée Paulina Gretzky and seven-week old son Tatum, will join fellow victorious 2007 USA Walker Cup colleague Rickie Fowler at Royal Co Down in May. Johnson revealed both McIlroy and Desmond had been busy ‘twisting’ his arm in recent weeks.
“Rory and I talked about it and he made a pretty strong case for me to play the Irish Open so, hopefully, it will work out. I’m not sure of my schedule at this stage so I am going to try and make it work.
“I would love to go back there as Royal Co Down is one of my favourite links courses — I played the Walker Cup there so I have very good memories of it.
“Dermot also said to me when he was over for Pebble Beach that I better come. I told him that if sends his plane for me I might think about it!” smiled Johnson.
And Johnson insists he’d relish confronting the world number one.
“Clearly, Rory is a really great player and has won a couple of Majors now but then I think I can play with him,” said Johnson. “I’m not afraid of him and that’s for sure.
“He’s a great golfer and I think I am too. I would like to have the chance to come down the stretch with him and see what we’re both made of. We are good friends, we live right across the water from each other, so I think it would be fun to take him on. I know I’m up for the challenge.”
While McIlroy may have been chatting with Johnson he’s also been texting former Masters winner Adam Scott after the Australian hinted earlier last week he would welcome an invitation to Royal County Down.
“I heard what Adam had to say and I texted him straight away, but then I didn’t bother asking him earlier as he won the Colonial last year so I knew he would be going back to defend,” said McIlroy.
However, Scott’s defence of the Crowne Plaza Invitational Colonial is a week prior to the Irish Open and it’s why he hinted strongly he could be enticed to tee-up in the shadow of the Mourne Mountains.
“I haven’t received my invitation yet, so I will check the mail,” said Scott smiling. “I’ve never played Royal County Down and I would love to, and it would be nice to play given it looks like a good week coming up in May.
“I had some good fun at the Irish Open’s back in the days in my youth when I was on the European Tour.”
And Scott predicts the day will come when he expect McIlroy to be joining him at an Augusta National ‘Champions Dinner’. “I would say the odds are in Rory’s favour,” said Scott.
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