(CNN) He had pocketed millions of dollars in prize money and collected a haul of trophies, but Dustin Johnson was "fed up with being good."
Not to the point where he wanted to give up the game, but frustrated by only being "good." He wanted to be great.
The tall, athletic American was one of the biggest hitters golf had ever seen with a talent to match.
But he was golf's nearly man.
He had let slip a succession of chances to win majors, both through misfortune and misadventure.
But after controversy, a personal crisis and fatherhood, something changed within Johnson.
His breakthrough major title at the 2016 US Open paved the way for a streak which has yielded five more wins, including three this season, and catapulted him to world No. 1.
READ: Billy Horschel opens up wife's alcoholism
"I can have someone tell me to do stuff all the time every day and if I don't want to do it, I ain't gonna do it," the 32-year-old, favorite for the 2017 US Open at Erin Hills, told CNN's Living Golf.
"It's got to come from me. Obviously people give me advice and what I should do, but I'm only going to do what I think I want to do. So, it was just time.
"I was just fed up with, you know, being good. I thought I could be a lot better."
Golf's world No. 1s
Justin Rose is only the fourth Englishman to hold the world No. 1 spot. Here's a look back at the other 22 golfers to hold the world No. 1 ranking.
Three major wins (US Open 2017, 2018; PGA Championship 2018).
One major win (PGA Championship 2017)
One major win (2016 US Open)
One major win (PGA Championship 2015).
Two major wins (Masters 2015; US Open 2015; British Open 2017).
One major win (Masters 2013).
Four major wins (US Open 2011; British Open 2014; PGA Championship 2012, 2014).
No major wins.
Two major wins (US Open 2014; PGA Championship 2010).
No major wins.
14 major wins (Masters 1997, 2001, 2002, 2005; US Open 2000, 2002, 2008; British Open 2000, 2005, 2006; PGA Championship 1999, 2000, 2006, 2007).
Three major wins (Masters 2000; PGA Championship 1998, 2004).
One major win (British Open 2001).
Four major wins (US Open 1994, 1997; British Open 2002, 2012).
One major win (British Open 1996).
Three major wins (British Open 1994; PGA Championship 1992, 1994).
One major win (Masters 1992).
One major win (Masters 1991).
Six major wins (Masters 1989, 1990 and 1996, The Open 1987, 1990 and 1992).
Two major wins (The Open 1986 and 1993).
Five major wins (Masters 1980 and 1983, The Open 1979, 1984 and 1988).
Two major wins (Masters 1985, 1993).
Issues
Johnson's big misses included squandering a three-shot lead going into the final round of the 2010 US Open at Pebble Beach.
And the time he earned a two-shot penalty for grounding his club in a poorly defined bunker on the final hole of the 2010 US PGA at Whistling Straits, falling out of a playoff.
He also three-putted on the final green to lose by one to Jordan Spieth in the 2015 US Open at Chambers Bay.
Each time he met adversity with equanimity, seemingly able to accept his fate and move on quickly.
But despite Johnson's prodigious talent, there were off-course issues.
READ: South Korean Kim to swap clubhouse for barracks
In July 2014 it was announced he was taking a "leave of absence" from the PGA Tour to confront "personal problems."
Reports suggested he had failed three drugs tests, including two for cocaine. The PGA Tour does not disclose punishments metered out to players, but in a later interview with Sports Illustrated Johnson denied drugs were the issue, although he admitted drinking too much vodka.
Johnson celebrates with wife Paulina Gretzky and son Tatum after winning the Genesis Open.
At the same time his fiancee Paulina Gretzky, daughter of ice hockey legend Wayne Gretzky, was pregnant with the couple's first child. Son Tatum was born shortly before Johnson returned to the Tour in February 2015.
With the responsibility of fatherhood, the guidance of the Gretzky family, and the help of his coach Butch Harmon and other members of his tightened team, Johnson knuckled down.
He worked hard on his wedge play, rededicated himself to the gym, and made a fast start on his return, with a ninth PGA Tour victory the following month before finishing tied fourth at the Masters that April.
And the near miss at Chambers Bay in June was met with typical level-headedness.
READ: McIlroy signs reported $100 million equipment deal
"I hit the shots I needed to hit under pressure so I knew I had what it takes," he told CNN.
The Masters 2017
Sergio Garcia of Spain celebrates with the Masters Trophy during the Green Jacket ceremony after he won in a playoff during the final round of the 2017 Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club on Sunday, April 9, in Augusta, Georgia.
Garcia embraces fiancee Angela Akins after winning his first major title in a playoff with England's Justin Rose for the Masters.
Olympic champion Rose won the 2013 US Open and was bidding to become the first European to win the Masters and US Open in his career.
Close friends Jordan Spieth and Rickie Fowler were playing together in the penultimate group Sunday, with Spieth chasing a second green jacket and Fowler a first major title.
Spieth was second on his debut in 2014, won the following year and was second last year after an infamous collapse on the back nine Sunday.
The 37-year-old Garcia was chasing his first major title in 74 attempts.
Rory McIlroy posted a fourth consecutive top 10 at the Masters but needs a win to complete the career grand slam of all four major titles.
Olympic champion Justin Rose of England fires a third-round 67 to reach six under and take a share of the lead with Sergio Garcia into the final round of the Masters on Sunday.
Spain's Garcia is chasing a first major title at the 74th attempt. Could a big one finally come his way Sunday at Augusta?
Jordan Spieth, the 2015 champion, has finished no worse than second on three visits to Augusta and hit back from a quadruple-bogey nine Thursday to be within two of the lead.
Phil Mickelson was hoping to mount a challenge for a fourth Masters green jacket but struggled to catch fire Saturday and faces an eight-shot deficit to the leaders.
Rory McIlroy needs the Masters to complete the career grand slam of all four majors but says he needs "the round of my life" if he is to have a chance Sunday.
Fred Couples won the Masters 25 years ago, and the 57-year-old is in contention again, although Saturday's third round didn't quite go in the right direction.
Young American Rickie Fowler is chasing a first major title and sits one stroke off the lead heading into the climax Sunday.
Charley Hoffman hits a shot on Friday. He led by four shots when the second round started, but he came back to the field with a 3-over 75.
Garcia hits out of a bunker on Friday. He shot a 3-under 69.
Pieters lines up a putt on the 10th hole Friday.
From left, Garcia, Lee Westwood and Shane Lowry wait together on a green.
Adam Hadwin jumps across Rae's Creek while playing the 13th hole.
Paul Casey, left, and caddie John McLaren visualize a shot.
Golfers walk up to the first fairway on Friday.
William McGirt reacts to a missed birdie putt on Friday.
Ryan Moore watches a shot from the pine straw on the 17th hole.
Former Masters winner Charl Schwartzel hits a shot on No. 7.
Hoffman drives the ball on the 18th hole on Thursday, April 6. He shot a 7-under 65 to take a four-shot lead after the first round.
Billy Payne, the chairman of the Augusta National Golf Club, places Arnold Palmer's jacket on a chair at the honorary start of the tournament. Palmer's wife, Kathleen, looks on. Palmer, a four-time Masters winner,
died in September at the age of 87.
Jack Nicklaus raises his cap to the sky, honoring Palmer before hitting a ceremonial tee shot.
Dustin Johnson, the world's No. 1 player, talks to the media after withdrawing from the tournament on Thursday. Johnson
hurt his back Wednesday after falling down a staircase.
Phil Mickelson reacts after making an eagle on the second hole Thursday. Mickelson, who has won the Masters three times, shot a 1-under 71.
Pieters hits a drive during the first round. The Belgian took an early morning lead and finished at even par.
McGirt lines up a putt. He finished in second place Thursday after a 3-under 69.
Jordan Spieth plays his second shot on the 18th hole Thursday. Spieth, the Masters winner in 2015, shot a 3-over 75.
The crowd watches Jason Dufner, Ernie Els and Bernd Wiesberger play the 16th hole on Thursday.
A detailed view of the main leaderboard near the first fairway.
Brandt Snedeker, left, high-fives a crew member after making a putt on the fourth hole.
A fan wears a pin in honor of Arnold Palmer.
Soren Kjeldsen plays a shot from the bunker on Thursday.
Jamie Lane, caddie for Matthew Fitzpatrick, lines up a putt.
But even Johnson's maiden major was not without controversy.
At Oakmont 12 months ago, Johnson was judged to have caused his ball to move by a fraction of an inch on the fifth green in the final round.
A rules official absolved him of blame, but seven holes later he was informed there may be a penalty coming after all. He played the remaining holes unsure of his score, but kept his head to win by four.
The penalty was assessed after the round, cutting the margin to three, but fortunately for Johnson -- and golf's reputation -- he was home and dry.
"Obviously, it was a huge relief and a big accomplishment for me personally, but especially with what had happened the year before," he told CNN.
"It was a huge win for my confidence and since then I've stepped my game up to a whole different level. That was the springboard, it kind of affirmated [sic] that the things I was doing were working."
Johnson was favorite to double his major tally going into this year's Masters with three straight wins to his name.
Two of those came in prestigious World Golf Championship events, taking his total to five -- only Tiger Woods has won more.
But on the eve of the Masters in April, Johnson injured his back slipping down some stairs in his rental home in Augusta. Despite intensive physio he was forced to pull out of the tournament before his first round.
Johnson, in trademark fashion, shrugged off the disappointment.
Of his ability to stay on an even keel he told CNN: "I've been through every tough situation you could possibly imagine to come up on a golf course so as far as handling situations, I've done it all. I'm pretty good at handling situations."
Who is the real Dustin Johnson?
However, despite the laid back demeanor Johnson insists he is "very, very competitive" with "huge drive."
"Unless you know me there's definitely a lot more than meets the eye," he adds.
Johnson will line up again as favorite for this year's US Open at Erin Hills, Wisconsin from June 15-18.
"To me every tournament is big and I want to win them all," he said.
"I enjoy being there on Sundays in the hunt, trying to win golf tournaments. That's why I work so hard in the gym, why I work so hard on my game.
Visit CNN.com/golf for more news and videos
"Having Paulina and Tatum there is a huge bonus and that's why I like to do this."