Rory McIlroy Explains That Dustin Johnson Is ‘Smarter Than You Think’

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While Dustin Johnson is one of the more exciting players between the ropes with his freakish athleticism, unique swing, and distance off the tee, he has never been the most exciting golfer when it comes to his interactions with the media. There’s nothing wrong with that by any means, it’s just the way DJ operates.

Before winning the 2020 Masters in record-setting fashion, earlier in the week he was asked what his favorite Masters’ tradition is. While most players may say the overall experience of Amen Corner, maybe skipping balls across the pond on No. 16 during the practice round, or the Par 3 contest, DJ said the sandwiches at Augusta National was his favorite tradition.

So the guy likes sandwiches, what’s the big deal? Some people saw that as a dull and boring answer, but Rory McIlroy explained that while his interactions with the media may come across one way, DJ is ‘smarter than you think.’

“He’s smarter than you think,” he said, according to GOLF. “He’s switched on, more so than he lets on, more so than everyone in the media thinks. I’ll just put it that way.”

To say he was switched on at Augusta National this past week would be a total understatement. Johnson won the Masters by five shots and posted the lowest four-day total, 20-under, in Masters history. To put his dominance into perspective, Cameron Smith became the first player in Masters history to post four rounds in the 60’s only to lose by five shots.

McIlroy, who played with Johnson during the first two rounds of the Masters, wasn’t too surprised to see him finally earn his second major title.

“Yeah, he’s been knocking on the door so long, and I think, since coming back out of sort back in June, the lockdown, he has been by far the best player in the world,” McIlroy said. “He’s won a few times, won a FedEx Cup, had a chance at Harding Park. And I think, yeah, it validates what he did at Oakmont a few years ago and he’s had so many chances and hasn’t quite been able to close the deal, but his resume speaks for itself, how many times he’s won on the PGA Tour, how consistent he’s been.

McIlroy got off to a brutal start at Augusta posting a first-round 75, but had a stellar weekend finishing in a tie for fifth after posting 67-69 on Saturday and Sunday.