As far as celebrity couples go, Dustin Johnson and Paulina Gretzky are definitely among the most iconic in the sporting world.
Paulina Gretzky is the daughter of four-time Stanley Cup winner Wayne Gretzky, who is widely regarded as the greatest NHL player of all time. As LIV Golf star Dustin Johnson is a two-time major winner, bringing together two sporting worlds.
From the start, Wayne was heavily involved in the pair’s relationship. In a meeting set up by Paulina’s mother, Johnson was given a trial by fire at the Gretzky household, meeting Wayne, MLB star Pat Perez, and nearly the entire family there.
And for their first official date, there was no less pressure, as Wayne Gretzky tagged along for dinner.
Why Wayne Gretzky was on Dustin Johnson and Paulina Gretzky’s first date
Johnson’s first few meetings with his now wife, Paulina, were unconventional, to say the least. A first date is enough pressure on its own, so it’s hard to imagine the pressure of “The Great One” sitting across from you.
But that was the situation Johnson found himself in, and he passed with flying colours!
Paulina explained their first official date on The Scoop in 2024: “We had dinner in my house and then the next night he took me out to a date with my dad and one of my best girlfriends, Hannah.
“I like more like moments like that. You build like a friendship, and then it leads into something that will last.”
Johnson and Wayne Gretzky have since developed a close relationship, so perhaps this is the formula for a happy relationship!
The relationship between Dustin Johnson and Wayne Gretzky is one of the most compelling cross-sport bonds in modern athletics. What began as a chance meeting through Paulina Gretzky’s mother, Janet Jones, at a 2009 pro-am, has evolved into a mentorship that fundamentally reshaped Johnson’s career.
What Dustin Johnson’s relationship with Wayne Gretzky is really like
Johnson and Gretzky have developed a close relationship since 2013, when the golf star met the hockey legend’s daughter.
It’s a relationship built on the pair’s relentless competitive drive. Gretzky once told Johnson that if he won three tournaments in one year, he should try to win five the next. This mindset helped him rise to number one in the Official World Golf Ranking and take victories at the 2016 US Open and the 2020 Masters.
Gretzky once said of Johnson, “My son-in-law is the best. He’s great to his kids, he’s a good father, he’s a wonderful guy.”
Today, the pair frequently plays golf together, and Gretzky can be seen watching on as Johnson plays on LIV Golf. It was an intimidating start to their relationship, but one that clearly worked out.
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