Dustin Johnson’s Pebble finish may indicate imminent breakthrough

Pebble Beach is Dustin Johnson’s Happy Place.

The two-time AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am winner knocked off whatever rust lingered from a six-month PGA Tour leave of absence in his second 2015 start, finishing tied for fourth with a final-round, 6-under 66 at Pebble Beach.

Playing alongside future father-in-law Wayne Gretzky, the duo finished tied for sixth in the pro-am competition, eight shots back of winners Pat Perez and Pandora jewelry co-founder Michael Lund.

Before Sunday, Johnson hadn’t finished in the top five in a PGA Tour event since a T-4 finish at the 2014 U.S. Open. On July 31, Johnson then announced an indefinite leave of absence from the Tour to face “personal challenges.”

Johnson returned last week, a new dad with fiancee Paulina Gretzky, at the Farmers Insurance Open. He missed the cut. He tees it up again this week at the Northern Trust Open near Los Angeles.

“I’m looking forward to [the tournament],” Johnson said afterward. “I really like that golf course and I’m playing really well right now.”

The long-hitting 30-year-old thinks it won’t be too long before he extends his streak of seasons with at least one PGA Tour win to eight.

“Second week back out playing and it keeps feeling better and it’s getting close,” he said. “It’s going to be really good here soon.”

Ryan Ballengee is a Yahoo Sports contributor. Find him on Facebook and Twitter.

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