MICHAEL BALIKER: We'd like to welcome Dustin Johnson to the interview room. First time in the semifinals since 2017 when you won the event. Just some opening comments on the day and being back in the semis.
DUSTIN JOHNSON: Yeah, it was obviously a good day. Won both my matches. Felt like I'm playing really good golf. Didn't hole a lot of putts, especially today, this morning or this afternoon, but the conditions got tough this afternoon, greens got a little faster, and felt like I hit some nice putts, just didn't make anything until 14, made a really nice one on -- or 15, to go 1-up in my match.
But yeah, it was a long day, but felt like I played really well all day.
Q. I know you said it wasn't your best day on the greens, but if you look at what you've done this week, I think you're second in strokes gained putting. I think you gained seven shots on the field. Did you make any adjustments this week either in your approach or equipment or anything?
DUSTIN JOHNSON: Nope. I don't think so. I'm using the normal Spider. Obviously I guess I'm making some putts, but I don't feel like I'm making a lot. But I've had a lot of good looks, so I think that's the difference.
I'm striking it really well, so I'm giving myself a lot of chances. Like this afternoon, obviously it was a tough match against Brooks, but never really gave him any holes. Obviously got 2-down early but I hit it inside 10 feet the first three holes and was 2-down. He chipped in on 1 and made another putt.
But never really got frustrated, just knew I needed to keep hitting good shots, keep getting good looks, and I could fight back in the match.
Q. Could it be something about the format that you can be a little bit more aggressive with the putts because it doesn't matter in certain situations?
DUSTIN JOHNSON: Well, you would think that but a couple of times I've had to make putts and I left them short, so it wasn't too aggressive.
But the greens I feel like are -- the speed is tough to judge sometimes on some of these putts because you get -- uphill they're rolling at 10 and downhill they're rolling at 25. It's hard to judge the speed sometimes.
Q. Let's keep this positive for a minute about your putting if you don't mind --
DUSTIN JOHNSON: I feel like I'm rolling it good, just haven't gone in the hole.
Q. Just wanted to ask you about No. 12, which was a huge putt with Brooks in there tight, and coming away with a half on 16, which was another good putt. Which of those do you think were more significant in terms of the flow of the match?
DUSTIN JOHNSON: I mean, they obviously both were big because I had to make the one on 12 to stay all square. That was obviously two. And I didn't want to three-putt. It was important to make that one.
Yeah, they're both big. 16, too, I had to make a six-footer to stay 1-up going into 17.
You know, can't really say much one was more important. They were both important putts.
Q. I'm curious what you were trying to do with your third shot left of the 16th.
DUSTIN JOHNSON: Exactly what I did.
Q. I couldn't see it very good.
DUSTIN JOHNSON: I took a 7-iron and I tried to just run it up the hill, and it was -- I hit it on the ground the whole way. It jumped straight up at the end or it would have gone down really close to the hole. I would have taken it right there where it was and never have hit the shot, too. I was in the worst spot you could possibly be in and hit a really good shot just to get it back where I had a chance to -- had a look at 4.
Q. How do you keep it on the ground when the grass is --
DUSTIN JOHNSON: Well, because I was on a downslope like this. I was all the way on the other side on the downslope.
Q. Seems like it would be hard to do that --
DUSTIN JOHNSON: I mean, it was a complete guess.
Q. Have the greens, were they a lot slower today than they were earlier in the week?
DUSTIN JOHNSON: No. I mean, this morning I felt like they were a little slower, but then with the wind and the Heat, they definitely dried out. They got firmer and a lot quicker this afternoon. It all depends on downhill, downgrain, they're lightning. Uphill into the grain they're pretty slow. But it's just tough to get a good beat on it sometimes.
Q. When you won it here in '17, do you feel like you've ever recaptured that form this week like you did in '17 when it seemed like you barely trailed?
DUSTIN JOHNSON: Yeah, I like this golf course, but it's all about -- if you're hitting good shots, then you can shoot some good scores. I like the way I'm hitting the ball right now. I feel like I'm controlling the golf ball pretty well. I'm hitting a lot of quality golf shots and giving myself a lot of looks. That's what you've got to do in match play.
Q. What is your familiarity with Scottie? What do you think it'll take to beat him tomorrow?
DUSTIN JOHNSON: I'm just going to have to play well. Obviously he's playing well. He's made it to the semis. Yeah, I mean, I know Scottie. I've played with him quite a few times, and then he was on the Ryder Cup team with us.
He's a good competitor, and it's going to be a tough match.
Q. Is Scottie going to be your toughest match of the week because he's won twice on TOUR this year or because he's in the semifinals?
DUSTIN JOHNSON: I mean, every match is tough. But yeah, it's definitely going to be a tough match. It's the semifinals, so you know if you win you're going to the championship.
Q. Outside of Max, I think you've trailed on the front nine at some point in every one of your matches. Does that ever get your stress level up?
DUSTIN JOHNSON: No.
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