Dustin Johnson: Putting key to tournament chances

Dustin Johnson tees off in past action. [Photo/AFP]

World number one Dustin Johnson believes he can win The Players Championship for the first time if he putts well at TPC Sawgrass this week.

Johnson is a 17-time PGA Tour champion – headlined by his 2016 US Open triumph -  but the American star has never won The Players Championship.

The 33-year-old has never finished in the top 10 of the tournament as he prepares for today's opening round in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida.

However, Johnson is confident of breaking through for his maiden Players title if he can roll the ball better on the greens.

"The Players Championship — I like the golf course," Johnson said. "For me, it's all about working hard on the putting over the next few days.

Johnson has spent 64 weeks atop the golf rankings, comfortably sitting above a growing list of challengers while waiting for yet another big season.

He heads into The Players Championship this week on the heels of a 10th-placed finish at the Masters and a share of 16th at the RBC Heritage — an event he rarely has played.

With TPC Sawgrass on the horizon, Johnson believes there is only one aspect of his game that really needs work.

"I feel like I've been playing really well. I played good at Augusta, I played good at Hilton Head," Johnson said. "I feel like the game's in really good form right now. The only thing I need to work on is putting. I've been rolling it well, I just haven't been making any putts.

"I played well enough to win in both tournaments, but I didn't putt well enough to win."

The so-called 'fifth major' offers Johnson and its typically strong field to get a taste of Grand Slam-like atmosphere