Dustin Johnson’s victory at the 2016 US Open would have been all the more satisfying because of what happened on a previous occasion when he had the lead ahead of the final round.
Of course, all eyes are on what Wyndham Clark will do on Sunday at Shinnecock Hills. The 32-year-old is at least six shots clear of the rest of the field in New York.
Clark has made the most of being on the good side of the draw at the US Open. He is seven under par after three rounds, with just four other players starting the final day under par.
But there is reason to think that the job is not done yet for Clark. An 82 over the last 18 holes would certainly open the door for the likes of Scottie Scheffler and Sahith Theegala.
He would not be the first overnight leader to fail to break 80 if Shinnecock does fight back.
How an 82 ruined Dustin Johnson’s chances of winning the 2010 US Open
Dustin Johnson was six under par after three rounds at Pebble Beach during the 2010 US Open. Johnson had stolen the show on Saturday with a round of 66 – matching the score Tiger Woods posted on the same day.
But by the time Johnson reached the fifth tee on Sunday, he was level par for the tournament.
Johnson made a triple bogey on the second hole, before a double followed on the third.
In fact, he would not make a single birdie all day as he finished at five over par, five shots behind eventual winner Graeme McDowell.
Major championship pressure proved to be too much for Dustin Johnson
Johnson had actually won the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am in both 2009 and 2010. Nevertheless, the pressure of leading a major championship clearly got to him.
He would not register another top 10 in the US Open until 2014. Of course, he would become a major champion for the first time at the same event two years later.
It could certainly prove to be incredibly eventful at Shinnecock Hills if Clark makes anything like the start that Johnson did 16 years ago.
