Dustin Johnson will enter the 2019 PGA Championship as the No. 1 golfer in the world rankings, but the major champion isn't relying on his top status or looking at the odds — which currently have him at 11/1, behind Brooks Koepka (10/1) and Tiger Woods (10/1).
Instead, Johnson is using a schedule change to his advantage and is feeling refreshed, focused and ready.
He spoke with media Tuesday after spending another day practicing on the Bethpage Black Course in Farmingdale, New York. He addressed the course and the change that helped Johnson get some rest in between events.
"For me coming here to the PGA, especially coming back to Bethpage, played a few events here, and it's a golf course that — I really like this course, especially if you're hitting it well," Johnson said. "It's all about driving.
"It sets up well for me. I feel like I can drive it good around here, but yeah, the course is in perfect condition. ... The only difference is the temperature, and the ball goes a lot further when it's warmer. The course is playing extremely long right now."
Johnson, who ranks 25th in driving distance with an average of 305.4 yards, hasn't played in a tournament since the RBC Heritage at the end of April. It was only his 11th tournament of the season.
So far, he has seven top-10 finishes, which includes a tie for second place at the Masters.
Usually by the time Johnson is preparing for the PGA Championship, he has finished a long stretch of events like the Open Championship and the World Golf Championship in Akron.
But, with the the PGA Championship moving from August to May, it could very well favor Johnson.
"I like the date. I like the change. I think it's good," Johnson said. "It's definitely different for me, but obviously mentally I'm coming in here very fresh and focused and ready to go. Is the game probably as sharp as it is after four weeks of big tournaments? Probably not. But I feel like I'm swinging really well. I've felt like I've been swinging well all year."
In major championships, Johnson has made the cut in five of his past six tournaments. He was close to breaking his major drought at Augusta National after winning the 2016 U.S. Open, but came up a stroke shy of Woods.
However, this course could be the one that sees Johnson get his second major title.
At Bethpage Black, Johnson's best finishes came at The Northern Trust, formerly know as The Barclays, where he tied for 18th in 2016 and tied for third in 2012.
"(I'm) a little frustrated sometimes just because I've had quite a few chances (to win a major) and I've felt like a few of them I really didn't do anything — I played well," Johnson said. "But that's just how it is. It's hard to win majors. If it was easy, a lot of guys would have a lot more than they do.
"But I feel good coming into this week, and I feel like this is a golf course where I've had success on, and I feel like I can play it well, especially in these conditions."