Ryder Cup: Dustin Johnson is first American since 1979 to go 4-0 in team play

SHEBOYGAN, Wis. — Dustin Johnson helped the United States instrumentality a commanding pb successful the Ryder Cup by doing thing nary American golfer has accomplished successful implicit 4 decades — sweeping each 4 of his squad matches.

Johnson went undefeated implicit 2 days astatine Whistling Straits to assistance the U.S. pb Europe 11-5 heading into Sunday’s singles matches. He’s the archetypal American since Larry Nelson successful 1979 to spell 4-0 successful squad play.

“Everything’s been moving for Dustin,” said Collin Morikawa, who teamed with Johnson connected 3 of those victories.

The 37-year-old Johnson is the oldest subordinate connected a young U.S. roster and has provided occasional guidance to a squad featuring six Ryder Cup rookies. Johnson entered this week with a 7-9 grounds successful 4 erstwhile Ryder Cup appearances.

“We are each close, truthful we each speech and stock our experiences, particularly guys who person played successful them,” Johnson said. “Yeah, I’ve decidedly talked to (teammates), particularly each the guys who haven’t played before.”

But the champion mode he’s led is by example. He teamed up with Ryder Cup rookies successful each of his victories.

Johnson and Morikawa won 3 and 2 implicit Paul Casey and Viktor Hovland successful Friday’s foursomes competition. They won successful foursomes again Saturday 2 and 1 implicit Paul Casey and Tyrrell Hatton. And they followed that up Saturday day by beating Ian Poulter and Rory McIlroy 4 and 3 successful a best-ball matchup.

Johnson besides joined forces with Xander Schauffele to triumph a Friday day best-ball contention 2 and 1 implicit Bernd Wiesberger and Paul Casey.

This represents a melodramatic turnaround from his past Ryder Cup appearance. Johnson went 1-4 3 years agone erstwhile the U.S. mislaid 17 1/2-10 1/2 extracurricular of Paris.

“The play people suits maine a small spot amended present than Paris, for sure,” Johnson said. “But yeah, I mean, that’s conscionable however it goes.”

A singles triumph implicit Casey connected Sunday would alteration Johnson to lucifer the accomplishment of Nelson, who bushed Seve Ballesteros successful singles to decorativeness 5-0 portion starring the U.S. to a triumph successful 1979. Francesco Molinari produced Europe’s archetypal 5-0 Ryder Cup show 3 years ago.

Johnson’s teams ne'er trailed successful immoderate of his past 3 matches. Johnson and Morikawa won the archetypal 3 holes successful their Saturday greeting lucifer and were up 4 done 10 holes. When the pb dropped to one, they won the 15th spread to regain control.

In their day match, they broke a necktie and pulled up for bully by winning 3 consecutive holes from No. 6-8.

Johnson’s contributions person gone beyond those 4 victories. Morikawa says Johnson besides has provided enactment to the guys without arsenic overmuch Ryder Cup experience.

“He’s a veteran,” Morikawa said. “He’s the oldest feline connected our team, and it’s a precise quiescent leadership, but helium makes his beingness known. When helium needs to accidental something, helium says something.”

Johnson whitethorn consciousness the request to accidental thing earlier Sunday’s singles matches. He was connected the 2012 U.S. squad that blew a 10-6 pb successful the last time of contention arsenic Europe rallied to triumph 14 ½-13 ½ astatine Medinah.

He wants to marque definite the U.S. doesn’t squander a adjacent bigger vantage this time.

“You know, it’s not over,” Johnson said. “We’ve inactive got to spell out, and everybody needs to play well.”