Dustin Johnson credits Wayne Gretzky  his mentor for rise in world rankings
Dustin Johnson
Dustin Johnson  left  and Wayne Gretzky  right  walk to the second tee of the Spyglass Hill Golf Course during the first round of the AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am. (Photo: Eric Risberg  AP)
In front of a large mobile gallery on a spectacular day on the Monterey Peninsula during the first round of the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am   Dustin Johnson  and Wayne Gretzky joked  their  way through 18 holes and played superbly as a team on the historically toughest golf course of the three layouts used in this event. Gretzky  who plays fast and clutches a cigar as much as he takes hold of a golf club  got things going by making a birdie for the first time in his golf career on the par-5 first at Spyglass and  getting a stroke because of his handicap   the team  was 2-under-par after one hole.
While Gretzky added another birdie on the par-5 seventh and a clutch par on 16 for birdie   Johnson  was overpowering the seaside and tree-lined course with six birdies en route to a 5-under-par 67. As a team  they shot 65.
 Johnson   who kicked off the year with a win in the Sentry Tournament of Champions in Hawaii  is on the first page of the leaderboard and in position to win for the third time here.
 Johnson  and Gretzky have had a visible bond since  Johnson  started dating Gretzkyâs daughter  Paulina  in 2012. Back then   Johnson  was ranked in the 20s â a freak of talent and power who  while winning a tournament a year  fell short of joining the elite class as  he  struggled with  his  short game and course management and didnât buy in 100% to preparation.
A shift to Butch Harmon as his swing coach paid dividends as  Johnson  has become one of the most feared in the game from 150 yards and in.  Johnson  became a gym rat and severely cut down the times  he  painted the town red at night.  Johnson  also became a father  as  he  and Paulina (they are engaged) are the parents of two young boys â Tatum and River Jones.
And  Johnson  has credited Gretzkyâs guidance and advice for  his  ascension up the world rankings.  Johnson  often picked the NHL iconâs brain and said Gretzkyâs support and belief did wonders for  his  confidence. The two quickly became regular golf partners and talked for hours about how to handle sports fame  pressure and expectations  with Gretzky  in  his  mentoring ways  always stressing to never settle.
As  Johnson  changed  his  habits   his  world ranking changed.  He  was 23rd in the world at the end of 2012  16th at the end of 2013  19th at the end of 2014  eighth at the end of 2015 and third at the end of 2016  when  he  won three of  his  17 PGA Tour titles  including  his  first major championship at the U.S. Open.  He  became No. 1 when  he  won at Riviera Country Club in February of last year and has stayed there for 51 weeks as  he âs piled up four more wins.
 He  has no intentions of leaving.
âThere are a lot of really good players that are playing really well right now  so it's going to be tough for me to keep it â  Johnson  said. âBut if I keep playing like I am and how I should  I'll be there at the end of the year.â
[TGT] left  and Wayne Gretzky  right  walk to the second tee of the Spyglass Hill Golf Course during the first round of the AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am. (Photo: Eric Risberg  AP)
In front of a large mobile gallery on a spectacular day on the Monterey Peninsula during the first round of the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am    [TGT] and Wayne Gretzky joked  their  way through 18 holes and played superbly as a team on the historically toughest golf course of the three layouts used in this event. Gretzky  who plays fast and clutches a cigar as much as he takes hold of a golf club  got things going by making a birdie for the first time in his golf career on the par-5 first at Spyglass and  getting a stroke because of his handicap   the team  was 2-under-par after one hole.
While Gretzky added another birdie on the par-5 seventh and a clutch par on 16 for birdie   Johnson  was overpowering the seaside and tree-lined course with six birdies en route to a 5-under-par 67. As a team  they shot 65.
  [TGT] who kicked off the year with a win in the Sentry Tournament of Champions in Hawaii  is on the first page of the leaderboard and in position to win for the third time here.
 Johnson  and Gretzky have had a visible bond since  Johnson  started dating Gretzkyâs daughter  Paulina  in 2012. Back then   Johnson  was ranked in the 20s â a freak of talent and power who  while winning a tournament a year  fell short of joining the elite class as  he  struggled with  his  short game and course management and didnât buy in 100% to preparation.
A shift to Butch Harmon as his swing coach paid dividends as  Johnson  has become one of the most feared in the game from 150 yards and in.  Johnson  became a gym rat and severely cut down the times  he  painted the town red at night.  Johnson  also became a father  as  he  and Paulina (they are engaged) are the parents of two young boys â Tatum and River Jones.
And  Johnson  has credited Gretzkyâs guidance and advice for  his  ascension up the world rankings.  Johnson  often picked the NHL iconâs brain and said Gretzkyâs support and belief did wonders for  his  confidence. The two quickly became regular golf partners and talked for hours about how to handle sports fame  pressure and expectations  with Gretzky  in  his  mentoring ways  always stressing to never settle.
As  Johnson  changed  his  habits   his  world ranking changed.  He  was 23rd in the world at the end of 2012  16th at the end of 2013  19th at the end of 2014  eighth at the end of 2015 and third at the end of 2016  when  he  won three of  his  17 PGA Tour titles  including  his  first major championship at the U.S. Open.  He  became No. 1 when  he  won at Riviera Country Club in February of last year and has stayed there for 51 weeks as  he âs piled up four more wins.
 He  has no intentions of leaving.
âThere are a lot of really good players that are playing really well right now  so it's going to be tough for me to keep it â  Johnson  said. âBut if I keep playing like I am and how I should  I'll be there at the end of the year.â