Dustin Johnson pleased with progress in return – StarNewsOnline.com

World No. 1 battles from cut line to leader before Brian Harman's win

By many accounts, Dustin Johnson's work at the Wells Fargo Championship proved a successful PGA Tour return.

It was almost successful enough to win a fourth-straight tournament.

The world's No. 1 player went from reaching the 1-over cut line on the number to the lead after birdying No. 18 Sunday. Minutes later, a 28-foot beauty there by Brian Harman prevented Johnson from remaining unbeaten on the Tour since February.

"The first two days I didn't play that bad," said Johnson, who finished second at 9-under with Pat Perez. "I had a good practice session before my third round and hit it well the last two days. I'm pleased with where my game is going into next week."

He suffered a freak back injury after falling down stairs days before the Masters and had to withdraw. The Columbia, S.C. native hadn't played since the World Golf Championships in early March.

Johnson noted some rustiness, which showed on Friday when he went 3-over for the round and narrowly stayed alive for the weekend.

Maybe that practice session was all he needed to better understand windy Wilmington. Two 67s provide plenty of evidence.

He made his charge Sunday thanks to back-to-back birdies on Nos. 12-13. A 37-footer for another bird lipped out a hole later.

"Hey DJ, Calabash loves you," shouted one fan while Johnson made his way on 14.

Judging by the crowd swelling, the devotion went beyond the Brunswick County hamlet.

Perhaps the best way to tell Johnson was back in a groove was how he hit out of trouble on 12 and 16.

He avoided water at 12, and managed a birdie anyway.

"I didn't catch it quite like I wanted to, but it was still on a pretty good line," Johnson said. "I guess you could say I got lucky it didn't go into the water but a little bit unlucky that it lands where it did and doesn't land on the green. Either or I guess."

The 16th was also iffy thanks to a tee shot that landed deep in pine straw. Again he found a way out and managed par.

His short game was on Sunday -- not just on 18, but also an 18-foot putt on 2 -- and it appeared that put him in position for a fourth-straight trophy.No one has won four or more in a season since Jason Day and Jordan Spieth (five each) in 2015.

If Wells Fargo was any indication, Johnson is poised to break Day and Spieth's mark.

"Physically, I'm really good," Johnson said. "Everything's 100 percent, feeling great. I can swing at it, no problems. Still got a lot of practice to do to get ready for next week, but looking forward to it."

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Dustin Johnson pleased with progress in return - StarNewsOnline.com