• Nordea Masters, Round One

Johnson still suffering in Stockholm

ESPN staff
July 21, 2011
Dustin Johnson © Getty Images
Enlarge

Leaderboard

Dustin Johnson looked to be suffering a hangover from his Open Championship disappointment as he toiled on day one of the Nordea Masters in Stockholm.

The American ended in second at Royal St George's at the weekend, his best finish at a major, but it represented the third time in just over a year that he has blown a glorious chance to win on the final day.

He was just a shot behind eventual winner Clarke at the Open when he stepped up to the par-five 14th hole and proceeded to smack his second shot out of bounds, scuppering his chances of claiming a maiden major.

For Johnson it was another disappointing end to one of the sport's most prestigious tournaments, in the same vein as his efforts at the 2010 US Open - where he imploded to shoot a final-round 82 - and the US PGA Championship in the same year, where a two-shot penalty at 18 cost him a spot in a play-off with Bubba Watson and Martin Kaymer.

In Sweden he never really got going, making a stuttering start with bogeys at two of the first three holes before going onto pick up two birdies and another bogey. He signed for a one-over round of 73.

Three players - Alexander Noren, Jaco Van Zyl and Robert Karlsson (an amateur, not the world No. 19) - lead the event at five-under, one shot ahead of a group that includes England's John Parry.

Bubba Watson, playing his first regular European Tour event since a controversial display at the Open de France, completed at one-under, picking up four birdies but undoing his best work with a double-bogey at 17.

Meanwhile, the better known Robert Karlsson finds himself at three-under.

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
Close

ABOUT COOKIES

To help make this website better, to improve and personalize your experience and for advertising purposes, are you happy to accept cookies and other technologies.

More Info Here Cookie Choices