DJ sweeps Pinoy fans off their feet

STA. ROSA, Laguna — The opening round of the International Series Philippines presented by BingoPlus was electric — not just because of the quality of competition — but because Dustin Johnson put on a show, drawing a massive crowd never before seen in the recent history of Philippine golf.

Making his debut on local soil, there was no doubt that Johnson was the main attraction.

His drives were smooth yet powerful while his putts were accurate, leaving Filipino spectators in awe with the brand of game that made him a former world No. 1 and two-time major champion.

He was paired with local hero Miguel Tabuena and South African Louis Oosthuizen, enough to give the Filipino golf fans a very good reason to watch him from start to finish.

During his first-ever drive at par-4 Hole No. 1 of the Sta. Elena Golf and Country Club here, he opted for a stinger instead of going for a higher-trajectory shot that could have sent the ball diving into the enchanting man-made lake on the right. 

The crowd cheered.  

“He is so smart. He knows that it’s quite windy, so he opted to play it safe with a low-trajectory shot,” said an elderly woman, who was part of the massive crowd that brushed off the scorching mid-day weather on Thursday just to witness world-class golf action in this $2-million tourney.

Johnson — affectionately called “DJ” by his fans — admitted that he loved performing with local spectators watching his every move. 

“The crowd came out today,” Johnson said, expecting to see more fans as the tourney reaches its climax on Sunday. “Hopefully, they can keep up the energy tomorrow.”

Another fan was particularly amazed at how he putts.

“He carefully studies his line of putt even if it almost looks like a tap-in,” another fan whispered to his companion. “It’s a mark of an elite player. Every stroke counts.”

Johnson closed his jaw-dropping performance with a heartbreaking miss on his putting birdie on He wrapped up the first round with a five-under 67 laced with nine birdies, trailing leader Sarit Suwannarut of Thailand by three strokes.

Again, the crowd roared. 

“Sayang! It could have been big,” a fan yelled.

Johnson casually walked off the green, tipped his hat off and smiled at the adoring crowd. Obviously, the affection showered on him by golf-loving Filipinos is far more important than what was written on his scorecard.