Johnson eyes number one spot

Last updated: 29th December 2012

Dustin Johnson is determined to raise the bar ahead of what is expected to be another gruelling season on the PGA Tour.

Johnson - currently ranked 19th in the world - reveals he has set his sights firmly on becoming the number one player on the planet.

Speaking to USA Today Sports, Johnson conceded that he would need to roll up his sleeves and work hard to achieve this. However, he remains confident that if can improve certain aspects of his game, that he can achieve this, even if it is not in the 2013 season.

"Getting to No. 1 is definitely a goal and I still have a lot of work to do, but I definitely want to get there. I'll keep working on my short game - you can never be too good with the wedge - and my putting and chipping. I know what I need to do and I'm going to do it," said Johnson.

Confidence is a word that is often used with careless abandon but for Johnson, who recovered from a severe back injury in early 2012, it will be the key when the 2013 season starts.

Johnson believes the injury - which kept him out of the game for six weeks - has prepared him mentally and physically for any challenges that might be thrown at him this season.

More significantly though, the prolonged absence from the sport has fuelled his desire to be the best in the game.

"Obviously you get bored [when not playing]. I wanted to play golf and at times I couldn't move. The competitive side in me drove me crazy because I wanted to be out there and compete and I just couldn't do it," explained the 28-year-old.

That burning desire was in evidence when he made his return to action. In just his second start after returning from injury, Johnson produced a dominant performance to go on and win the FedEx St. Jude Classic.

Later in the year he was the most consistent performer in the American Ryder Cup team - he was one of only three Americans to win their singles matches on the final day of the 2012 event. In addition to his brilliant performances at the Ryder Cup, Johnson managed four top ten finishes on the PGA Tour in 2012.

With this in mind, it's no surprise that Johnson's confidence is high, declaring that "everything is 100%."