The American had finished second and fourth in the two previous years and also secured a fourth-place finish at the 2016 Masters.
And his win at Oakmont was not without controversy as he spent much of the final round unsure whether he would be penalised for making his ball move while addressing it on the fifth green.
His score was eventually amended from five under par to four, but it made no difference to the result as he finished three strokes clear of Jim Furyk, Shane Lowry and Scott Piercy.
The world No1 remains the form golfer and starts as a 7/1 favourite when he tees off alongside two other US Open champions: 2015 winner Jordan Spieth and Germany’s Martin Kaymer, who took the title 12 months before.
Johnson has just become a father for the second time and he believes being a parent has changed his golf game for the better.
“It just gives you a whole new perspective on things,” he said.
“Where before kind of golf was the most important and now my family is the most important.
“At the end of the day whether I’m having a good day or bad day, when I either see my family or talk to them, whatever, if I was upset or even if I was happy with the way I played, none of that matters.
“Just I’m always happy and excited to be with them.”
Play is scheduled to get underway at Erin Hills at 6.45am local time – or 12.45pm UK time.
