Dustin Johnson hoping to make it to Tokyo 2020

Omnisports

August 24, 2016 9:41 AM

American Dustin Johnson admits he would like to play in the Olympics in four years time.

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Dustin Johnson was one of the many golfers who controversially skipped the Olympics in Rio earlier this month, but the U.S. Open champion would like to play next time around.

"I would have liked to have been there," Johnson said on Wednesday in his press conference ahead of this week's The Barclays.

"I watched a little bit, not too much of the golf. I checked the scores on the golf just to see how it was going. I play enough golf. I don't need to watch it.

"Playing in the Olympics wasn’t the issue for me. I wanted to go play. I wanted to represent my country, I like doing that.

"I would really like to go to the Olympics. Unfortunately, where it was and all the other things that went along with it, to me, the risk wasn’t worth it.

"I'm looking forward to hopefully making the team and playing in Tokyo."

Johnson was just one of six players ranked in the top 10 at the time of the event who skipped the tournament, but received a bit more backlash after posting numerous photos with fiance Paulina Gretzky while they were on vacation.

Now, Johnson's attention has shifted towards the FedEx Cup and the Ryder Cup, and he thinks the Americans have a good chance of winning.

"I think we've got a really solid team," he said. "All the guys on the team are playing well. They all deserve it, so as of right now, the top eight are all really good.

"The European team will come to play and it will be a tough match just like it always is."

Despite losing the last three Ryder Cups, Johnson thinks Team USA has a secret weapon that could help them win.

"The knowledge Tiger [Woods] has of the game, and the domination he's had is going to be great," Johnson said. "He’s always been really good in the team rooms. He’s already been texting me a bunch about it, so he’s fired up."

Woods will be one of Davis Love III's vice captains. Though he would rather be playing, the 14-time major champion has had glowing reviews regarding his role with the team. Like Johnson mentioned, having Woods on board can never be a bad thing.

Johnson heads into this week's Barclays — the first tournament in four play-off events — coming off one of the best summers in recent memory. After winning the U.S. Open — his first major title — he backed it up with a win at the Bridgestone Invitational and added a host of other top 10s.

He will be among the favorites to hoist the FedEx Cup in Atlanta next month.

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