For rising golf star Dustin Johnson, failure is feedback.
If not for a controversial bunker penalty at the 2010 PGA Championship, Johnson might have had a major title to his name by now.
He also blew a great chance at the 2010 US Open, when a final-round 82 dropped him from first to a tie for eighth.
Then in 2011, he finished equal second at the Open Championship in England.
The bunker debacle in 2010 was the most heart-breaking experience of the lot.
Johnson held a one-shot lead when he arrived at the final hole.
His tee shot at the 18th sailed off to the right, landing in what Johnson thought was nothing more than a pile of dirt.
However, that pile was technically a bunker that had deteriorated over the week after being trampled on by thousands of fans.
And when Johnson grounded his club, he incurred a two-stroke penalty, which cost him the chance to feature in a three-hole playoff against Martin Kaymer and Bubba Watson.
But rather than dwell on that near miss, Johnson is squarely focused on the future.
His seven PGA Tour titles have given him confidence, and the 29-year-old feels he’s close to breaking through for his maiden major success.
“You always learn more from when you don’t succeed,” said Johnson, who is favourite to win this week’s $US2million Perth International at Lake Karrinyup, which tees off on Thursday.
“You learn a lot about yourself, so that’s definitely helped.
“Every once in a while when you’re with your buddies, we’ll talk about it.
“But when something happens, I try to learn from it and then I’m done with it.”
Johnson’s fiancee Paulina Gretzky has made the trek with him to Australia.
The glamorous blonde is the daughter of ice hockey legend Wayne Gretzky, and joins Johnson’s brother/caddy as part of his entourage at the Perth International.
Johnson is still battling a head cold that he caught on the flight over, but expects to be firing on all cylinders when he tees off with defending champion Bo Van Pelt and Australia’s leading hope Brett Rumford on Thursday morning.
“I’m starting to feel probably 70 per cent today, so hopefully tomorrow I’ll feel a lot better,” Johnson said.
Johnson is an athletic marvel who has established a reputation as being one of the biggest drivers in world golf.
He can also dunk a basketball in bare feet and perform a standing long jump that would put him in the top seven percentile of NBA players.
The laid-back American tries to play a bit of basketball whenever he can, but says golf remains his major passion.
