Dustin Johnson hits golf balls on to Cottesloe Beach

Two Americans and an Australian go to Cottesloe Beach…

Dustin Johnson tees off at Cottesloe Beach in Perth – credit GolfWA

Dustin Johnson has arrived in Australia as one of the marquee names in the field of the ISPS HANDA Perth International to be played at Lake Karrinyup Golf Club this week.

Johnson joined Brett Rumford and last year’s Perth International winner Bo Van Pelt in challenge at Perth’s iconic Cottesloe Beach for a ‘nearest the pin’ challenge with a difference.

Johnson was part of the 2011 Presidents Cup team at Royal Melbourne and the world number 26 has returned to Australia with his girlfriend and model Paulina Gretzky, daughter of ice-hockey legend, Wayne Gretzky. Gretzky instagrammed a photo of the journey (see image below).

“My first swing in Australia was a 174 yard shot with a green the size of a pancake! It was fun though and a gorgeous beach to visit. My first practice shot was the best and it got worse from there!”, Johnson said.

Each player teed off on the breakwater and fired shots towards a pin placed 158 metres back on the beach.

Rumford was clearly the most relaxed in his home state of Western Australia and his shot to 2.7 metres was good enough to win after each player hit three shots each. But Rumford still denied having any home town advantage.

“I’ve certainly never hit a ball over Cottesloe beach before so there was no home town advantage! It was good fun.”, Rumford remarked after winning the challenge.

No whales were harmed during the challenge.

The ISPS HANDA Perth International commences on Thursday at Lake Karrinyup Country Club, widely acknowledged as Western Australia’s premier golf club. It is the only Australian tournament to be co-sanctioned by the European Tour and the PGA Tour of Australasia.

With US$2 million in prizemoney, the tournament is Australia’s richest tour event and is proudly supported by the International Sports Promotion Society (ISPS), and the Western Australian Government, through Eventscorp.

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