Dustin Johnson reveals why wife Paulina Gretzky is not with him at The Open
Dustin Johnson reveals why wife Paulina Gretzky is not with him at The Open
In a surprising twist, Dustin Johnson revealed that his wife, Paulina Gretzky, opted out of joining him at this week’s 152nd Open Championship at Royal Troon due to her aversion to the infamous Scottish weather.
Johnson, 40, spoke to reporters after a promising second round, where he carded a 2-under 69, lifting his tournament score to 1-over par. Despite being eight shots behind the 36-hole leader, Shane Lowry, Johnson remains in contention with two rounds left to play.
The two-time major champion has kept himself within striking distance, albeit with an uphill battle ahead. Yet, should Johnson clinch his first Open Championship title on Sunday, Paulina won’t be present to witness his potential triumph. Instead, she chose to vacation with friends in the luxurious Saint-Tropez, preferring the sunny French Riviera over Scotland’s blustery 30mph winds.
“I don’t blame her,” Johnson admitted, understanding Paulina’s preference for warmer climates. He confirmed that he plans to reunite with her in Saint-Tropez after the tournament concludes on Sunday night.
This week, Johnson’s sole family support comes from his brother and caddie, Austin. When asked if any family members were present, Johnson responded with a chuckle, “Well, my brother’s here.”
His focus, however, remains on overcoming the significant deficit behind leader Shane Lowry. Johnson knows he needs the challenging weather conditions his wife dislikes to play to his advantage. “It all depends on the weather really. Tough conditions, you don’t need to be — you can be pretty far behind as long as you play well,” he stated.
Johnson’s season has been a mixed bag. He kicked off the year strong with his third career title on the LIV Golf tour in Las Vegas back in February. However, subsequent performances have been less consistent, with only three top-10 finishes and missed cuts at both The Masters and the US Open. He also finished T43 at the US PGA.
While Johnson has never won The Open, his eligibility to compete in the final major of the season stems from his 2020 Masters victory. His first major win dates back to the 2016 US Open, solidifying his status as a former World No.1.
As Johnson braces for the weekend, fans are left to wonder: can he pull off a stunning comeback and seize the Claret Jug? If he does, it will be without Paulina cheering from the sidelines but certainly with her in his thoughts.
