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When Dustin Johnson tested positive for COVID-19 in mid-October, the No. 1 ranked golfer in the world was terrified about the possibility of missing The Masters in November.

Johnson was playing some of the most dominant golf of his life. He was going to be one of the biggest favorites to win his first green jacket this year. What if he wasn’t even allowed to play? Thankfully for him, Johnson has been cleared to play after spending 11 days isolated in a hotel room.

Dustin Johnson tested positive for COVID-19

The COVID-19 pandemic hadn’t affected much of the golf world since the PGA Tour returned to play in June. A few players tested positive for the virus here and there, but none of the top-ranked golfers got hit.

That was until Oct. 13 when the No. 1 ranked player in the world, Dustin Johnson, announced he tested positive for COVID-19. Johnson had to stay in an isolated hotel room for 11 days while he recovered from the virus. He explained what that experience was like during a media session on Wednesday.

“I felt like I had a cold for a few days, and then after that I didn’t, so I was pretty much asymptomatic,” Johnson said. “A little fatigue and things like that, but I couldn’t really figure out if that was because I was stuck in a hotel room for like 11 days not doing anything or it was COVID that made me feel that way. I didn’t leave the room for 11 days. I was just laying around, kind of doing nothing. It was one of those things I was, like, waiting to get sick because you know you have it and you’re sitting there. But for me it was very mild, and obviously I’m very thankful for that.”

Johnson is out of quarantine and back on the course

After a week and a half of sitting around watching the ceiling, Johnson was finally able to return to the golf course last week. He was able to practice by himself for a few days, and once he tested negative for COVID-19, he was able to rejoin the PGA Tour.

He’s wasting no time getting back to the action, either. Johnson will be teeing it up this weekend at the Vivint Houston Open, and he just happens to be the betting favorite even with the roller coaster of the last few weeks.

Johnson is back just in time for the 2020 Masters

With the way he was playing down the stretch of last season, Johnson would’ve been crushed if he had to skip The Masters. Johnson won the Northern Trust and the TOUR Championship, and he finished second in the PGA Championship and the BMW Championship to finish the 2020 season.

No one was playing better golf than DJ at the time. And that’s probably still true today even with the lack of practice he’s had recently. The Masters have eluded him in recent years despite placing in the top 10 in each of his last four appearances. This could finally be the year he dons the green jacket.

Johnson will tee off his Masters weekend on Thursday, Nov. 12. It just wouldn’t have been the same without the World No. 1 in the mix.

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Staff Writer

Jack Dougherty

Writing professionally since 2015, Jack Dougherty spent six years as a sportswriter with publications such as GoPSUSports.com, the Centre Daily Times, and the Associated Press before joining Sportscasting in 2020. He covers the NBA, the NFL, and the world of golf extensively and has added expertise on any team located in or around his hometown of Philadelphia. Yes, that includes the Philadelphia Eagles, the Philadelphia 76ers, and Philadelphia Phillies.

When Jack isn’t writing about sports, he’s watching them or playing them as he regularly heads to the gym for some pickup basketball or the golf course to hit the links. He’s also an avid participant in the sports betting scene who worked at a casino sportsbook for a year and learned the ins and outs of the industry before bringing his expertise to Sportscasting with one excellent gambling recommendation after another.