AUGUSTA, Ga. ‘Dustin Johnson knew this wasn’t going to be easy.
Three days of training rounds on the green and green fairways at Augusta National made it pretty clear in Thursday’s opening round of the 85th Masters that the record 20-year winning score he posted in November won’t be achievable. .
This did not make it easier to swallow on 74, over 74 Johnson positions, defending his title.
“Yes, the conditions are definitely different,” Johnson said. “The course is a little firmer and faster. But it’s still the same golf course. It certainly plays much harder just because, when the green is firm and fast here, the golf course plays difficult. Then add the wind today (and) made the game very difficult. ”
Johnson had his round with red numbers, going 1 under par to 14, but a bogey on par-5 15 and a double on 18 left him 2-over for that day.
Only three players in Masters history have repeated, the last being Tiger Woods in 2001. Johnson insisted he did not feel any added pressure on Thursday.
“If there’s anything, I’m a little more relaxed there,” he said. “He played hard. I felt like I played pretty well too, or I did pretty well. Obviously, the last hole stings a bit. I feel like I’m rocking well, I’m playing well. I look forward to the rest of the week. “