What's at stake for Johnson with 1st Masters title within reach
Here we go again.
Dustin Johnson holds another 54-hole lead at a major championship with a relatively simple pathway to victory.
Sitting on a four-shot lead, one more solid trip around Augusta National should seal the deal and give the No. 1-ranked player his first green jacket. But the 23-time PGA Tour winner knows better than anyone that closing on Sunday won't be easy.
Ending the 54-hole lead curse
DJ and 54-hole leads at major championships do not mix well. He's the only player who has failed to covert any of his four 54-hole leads or co-leads at majors into wins. (Recently, he came up short in his bid to win the PGA Championship in August after going into Sunday with the lead.)
The 2010 U.S. Open stands out as Johnson's biggest collapse. He led by three going into Sunday but shot an 11-over 82 in his first real chance at a major win. He also co-led at the 2015 and 2018 U.S. Open but was unable to go home with the hardware.
Even though it seems impossible Johnson could blow a four-shot edge with the way he's playing, he'd be the first to argue against you. He erased Shane Lowry's four-shot lead at Oakmont to win the 2016 U.S. Open for his only major championship title.
You'd also be foolish to think this tournament is over. Augusta has proven on numerous occasions that no lead is safe regardless of your stature in the game. Rory McIlroy and Jordan Spieth can attest to the fact danger lurks around every corner while leading at the Masters.
72-hole scoring record
Johnson has the opportunity to make Masters history. He already matched the 54-hole scoring record while shooting 16-under and is only two shots shy of tying the mark set by Tiger Woods in 1997 and Spieth in 2015.
Anything better than 2-under while holding on to the lead on Sunday would put Johnson's name alone in the record book. And while his victory may not be as dominant as Tiger's 12-shot win from 1997, Johnson's torching of Augusta wouldn't be any less impressive.
Breaking the world No. 1 slump
Surprisingly, No. 1-ranked players in the world have had a tough go at the Masters. Only three players since the Official World Golf Ranking system was implemented in 1986 have claimed a green jacket while entering the week as the top-ranked player: Ian Woosnam (1991), Fred Couples (1992), and Tiger Woods (2001, 2002).
Johnson has a fantastic opportunity to break the losing streak and solidify his position as the best player in today's game.
Joining the 20-2 club
The biggest knock of Johnson's career so far has been his lack of major championship success. For a prolific winner on the PGA Tour, you'd expect him to have more than one major.
That could all change on Sunday as he looks to become only the 28th player in golf history with 20 or more PGA Tour wins plus two or more major titles. Of the 28, he will be the 12th to do so who is still alive.
Most importantly, a second major win would erase any negatives on Johnson's Hall of Fame career and strengthen his case as the best player of his generation.