THE MODERATOR: We'd like to welcome Dustin Johnson into the interview room at the Palmetto Championship at Congaree. Dustin enters the week ranked No. 1 in the world, has been since August. Dustin, how does it feel to be playing your third event of the season here in your home state of South Carolina?
DUSTIN JOHNSON: Yeah, it's great. I obviously don't get to play a whole lot in South Carolina, other than Hilton Head every year, but this year's been kind of cool getting to play so many events in South Carolina.
Yeah, looking forward to it. Obviously, this is my first time coming here to Congaree. The golf course is really good. Played 18 yesterday and played 9 this morning. I obviously don't know the course very well, but it's in good shape. It's a fun golf course to play.
Q. D.J., could you expand a little bit on what you like about the golf course, and is there any difficulties in not knowing it very well?
DUSTIN JOHNSON: Yeah, after you play it kind of once, kind of get the lines off the tees, it's not -- obviously, the greens got a lot of undulation and some slope, but, yeah, with greens books and everything, it definitely helps. Especially for me, I like to use it on like hitting second shots, just kind of knowing where to hit the ball or, if you do miss it, like what side to favor on.
Yeah, there's definitely a little bit of difficulty not knowing the golf course, but I played it yesterday. It felt like I got a pretty good beat on it, and then obviously nine holes today.
Q. What do you like about it?
DUSTIN JOHNSON: It's different, especially for a course in South Carolina. It's not really any rough, but there's fairways that's firm. The ball's running out pretty good. The course, it's just a neat course to play. It's something different. We don't really play golf courses that look like this very often.
Q. D.J., I know you don't sweat much, but is it getting annoying that you haven't seen the results more recently even though you say you are hitting the ball well?
DUSTIN JOHNSON: Yeah, it's frustrating, yeah, for sure, just because I haven't -- I feel like it's close, and it's getting better, but for me, I feel like a lot of it just has to do with I just haven't putted very well. Augusta did not putt good at all. That's kind of been the trend or the reason why I've just been struggling a little bit is more just with the putting.
I feel like it's getting better, starting to roll it down my line a little bit more and making some putts.
Q. What would it mean to you to win in South Carolina PGA? I know you've won in South Carolina, but a PGA TOUR event in South Carolina?
DUSTIN JOHNSON: It would be great. Obviously, it's my home state. It's where I grew up. It's kind of where I honed my skills throughout my especially early days all through college. Yeah, it would mean a lot to win in South Carolina.
FastScripts Transcript by ASAP Sports