GolfTalkCentral

Outside looking in

By Jay Coffin
Aug 13, 2009 6:19 PM ET

CHASKA, Minn. – Dustin Johnson is making an early surge here at the PGA Championship, looking for a spot on the U.S. Presidents Cup team.

It's been an up-and-down summer for the long hitter. After a 40th-place tie at the U.S. Open he received a cortisone injection in his wrist and didn't play until the British Open, where he shot 78-76 to miss the cut.

But he regrouped with swing coach Allen Terrell and played better last week at the WGC-Bridgestone and ended with a tie for 22nd, shooting 69 in the final round.

Earlier in the year, U.S. Presidents Cup captain Fred Couples played a practice round with Johnson at the Masters and said he'd love to have him on his team. Then, Wednesday, Johnson played a practice round here at Hazeltine with Couples and Phil Mickelson.

Johnson is 16th in Presidents Cup points but looking to move up. He didn't do himself any favors by finishing with a double bogey on the 18th to shoot 72. At one point in his round he had it to 3 under and was on the first page of the leaderboard.

If he doesn't make the team on points, perhaps Couples familiarity with Johnson will land him a captain's pick.