PGA Tour Shot of the Week: Dustin Johnson secures U.S. Open win with incredible approach on No. 18

It isn’t hard to imagine what went through Dustin Johnson’s mind when USGA officials informed him on hole No. 12 that he could be assessed a one-stroke penalty for ball movement all the way back on No. 5. “Really?,” Johnson must have thought, “You’re going to make Oakmont even harder for me?”

After all, the 113-year-old course is one of the most difficult on tour. Having to play the final six holes without knowing your accurate score must only amplify the demanding nature of her church pews and rolling greens.

Johnson’s ability to overcome that challenge, not to mention the weather stoppages in round one, makes the gravity of the 32-year-old’s three-stroke win just that much greater.

He capped off his outstanding performance with an approach shot on No. 18 that secured a birdie and the win, taking the final result of the tournament out of the USGA’s hands entirely. That beautiful approach is this week’s winner of our PGA Tour shot of the week, presented by Fossil Trace Golf Club.

As Johnson lined up for his final approach on No. 18, 191 yards from the flag, the questions about the USGA’s impending ruling no doubt swirling in his head, he pulled out his 6-iron, lined up, and launched a laser right at the flag to secure only the second birdie on that hole in the entire round.

Johnson himself called it the shot of his life and there’s little doubt that it’s among the great clutch shots in the tour’s recent history.

It encompasses everything fans love about golf—and sports for that matter. It was a moment where a great athlete made the greatest shot of his career during the most pressure-packed moment of his career.

Paulina Gretzky, Johnson’s fiance and the mother of his young son Tatum, was overcome with emotion as the ball landed just three feet from the cup.

Johnson’s previous major appearances have typically ended in heartbreak. He’s finished in the top-10 in 11 previous major appearances, never finding a way to pull out a win. Oakmont could have ended in more major heartbreak had Johnson not hit this jaw-dropping approach shot.

“It was a very nice way to finish,” Johnson told Fox Sport’s Joe Buck during the trophy ceremony. “It might be one of the best shots I’ve ever hit, especially considering the circumstance. I was very happy to see a little three-footer to finish.”