It’s the week of The Masters.

Dustin Johnson has a chance to repeat then slip the green jacket on himself.

Without hesitation, the #1 ranked player in the world is not just one of my sentimental favorites, but I think he will win.

He now knows he can. Johnson is one the few golf athletes that does not have to play his best or even outside of himself to win on a course like Augusta. He also has that rare ingredient that only a select few athletes have in all of sports and this ingredient is what I crudely refer to as “on demand.” This means Dustin often elevates his game to whatever level necessary to accomplish victory. He is bigger, stronger, faster, drives it better than almost all, and now, has the superior putting touch combined with experience to dominate. Major golf titles are considerably different from regular PGA Tour events.

This is not to short the regular events. Extremely difficult course conditions, media, money, performance consequences, and the fans easily justify the elevated status and distinction. Then, there is The Masters. It’s the Super Bowl of golf and all the players know it.

By the numbers, this major should be the easiest to win because of the limited field. However, it’s said to be the toughest because of the internal pressure it stirs. Johnson knows this and it would be my opinion that he is aware of “The Masters Effect” on the other players. This is akin to what Tom Weiskoff said was Nicklaus’s great advantage.

“Nicklaus knows he’s the best player in the world and Jack knows you know he’s the best player in the world,” Weiskoff said.

Dustin Johnson knows what contention in The Masters can do inside the other competitors body and minds. He also knows that they know what’s not doing inside his.

Johnson has not been rattled yet and everyone knows it. This unusual combination can be a super advantage to Johnson while filing off hope’s edge of his competitors.

Speaking of competitors, there is a local high school basketball player who has superstar qualities.

Myles Jenkins also plays golf and he recently took over the SC High School League Class 5A basketball title game, leading River Bluff to a 57-45 upset win over 4-time defending champion Dorman. He took over the game scoring 31 points, grabbing 8 rebounds and blocking 4 shots.

I had the privilege of having a conversation with this well-mannered young man and he is beyond his years.

Jenkins impressed me from his 1st sentence.

“My dad plays and introduced me to the game and I like to play golf because it keeps me mentally strong,” he said. “In basketball, there’s a lot you can’t control but in golf it’s all you.”

It got better from there.

“What you do with things you can’t control is don’t dwell on them. Keep working hard and move on. I call it “next play mentality”. If I make a mistake, forget and move on. Or, if I’m playing well, don’t think and keep playing.”

Tune in next week for more.

In local high school golf, Dakota Chavis led his Gilbert golf team to victory in a tri-match over Brookland Cayce and Airport. Chavis tied with Reese Hadley of Brookland-Cayce for individual medalist honors.