Dormi

While everybody else in America was focused on March Madness, I was focused on the Dell Technologies World Golf Championship here in Austin over the weekend.

For rabid golf fans, there’s nothing like watching professional golfers play head to head — you learn a lot watching pro golfers in match play (as opposed to the week in week out stroke play).

What did we learn this weekend? That Dustin Johnson has more than earned his world #1 ranking.

That an obscure 38-year old Japanese golfer named Hideto Tanihara was the only player who really gave Johnson a run for his money in the semifinals, losing only 1 up on the 18th hole.

That Tanihara earned himself a precious spot in the upcoming Masters, and, oh yes, made an ace on the longgg par 3 #7 in his consolation match with Bill Haas.

In the final match, the hard-charging 22 year-old Spaniard Jon Rahm was 5 down through number 8 before Johnson lost the plot for a few holes.

But in the end, he outsmarted and outplayed the rookie, and took home yet another trophy. Johnson keeps playing like this, that #1 ranking could reside aside his name for some time.

And if he does bring that particular game to Augusta National in two weeks…watch out. Although that fade doesn’t lend itself to Augusta, say, the way Phil’s lefty slice does….