Dustin Johnson, who has been on a self-imposed leave from the PGA Tour, is considering a return in the Farmers Insurance Open at Torrey Pines on Feb. 4-7, according to Golfweek.
If he does return in the San Diego-area event, expect DJ to also play to following week in the AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am, because he loves the Monterey Peninsula and has won the tournament twice.
Johnson also is waiting for his fiancee, Paulina Gretzky, to give birth to their first child before he comes back.
“He has some thoughts but nothing definitive,” his manager, David Winkle said. “It’s all baby dependent. He’s no different than anybody else with a child on the way.”
Johnson has not played competitively since the RBC Canadian Open late in July.
DJ, who said he needed to take care of personal issues, missed the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational, the PGA Championship, the PGA Tour playoffs, the Ryder Cup and his title defense in the WGC-HSBC Champions.
There was a report that he had been suspended for six months by the PGA Tour because of drug use, but the tour denied that in an extraordinary announcement because it almost never comments on disciplinary issues.
Johnson reportedly has been working hard to prepare for his return. His regimen includes 30-mile bike rides and vigorous sessions with trainer Joey Diovisalvi.
“I’ve never seen the guy more dialed in,” Diovisalvi said. “From a performance standpoint, it’s as good as I’ve ever seen, maybe better.”
Johnson also has been working with instructor Claude Harmon III and recently set a course record of 61 at Sherwood Country Club in Thousand Oaks, where the Gretzkys own a home. Tiger Woods holds the competitive record of 62.
“He’s showed up on time, hit balls and has looked good,” Harmon said. “He looks healthy, really calm, and chilled out.”
Johnson has won each of the last seven seasons on the PGA Tour, the longest active streak on the PGA Tour.
