He’s a man on the verge of winning $10 million — but Dustin Johnson says he feels “really relaxed.”
The FedEx Cup leader has a share of the overnight lead at the Tour Championship in Atlanta and will claim the huge prize if he wins, although a top five finish could well be sufficient.
Johnson, along with Hideki Matsuyama and Kevin Chappell, finished four under par after the opening round at East Lake, with Irishman Rory McIlroy — who must win to stand any chance of scooping the jackpot — two shots further back.
With the Ryder Cup looming on the horizon, the US Open champion is one of eight members of the US team on display and he is looking sharp as the countdown to the contest gathers pace.
But he’s staying laid back and told reporters: “There’s a lot on the line — but there’s a lot on the line every week.
“I felt really relaxed out there all day.”
McIlroy — who recovered from a shaky start to hit seven birdies and keep himself firmly in the picture — told Sky Sports it would “be OK for the Ryder Cup next week playing like this.”
The 27-year-old, who has been frustrated by erratic putting in recent weeks, said that aspect of his game remained a work a progress.
“I’m just happy that the score at the end of the day is under par,” he said. “I am mixing a lot of bad with a lot of good so if I can eradicate the mistakes, seven birdies around this golf course is pretty good.
“As you can see, once I get a couple of birdies I get some confidence and momentum.
“I am actually more comfortable on the breaking putts. The ones that I missed were dead straight.”