Houston, Texas …. World No. 9 Dustin Johnson is not about to overawed by any Masters favouritism tag.
Johnson ignited hopes of a first victory this season when he burst up the leader board and into a share of first place on day one of the Shell Houston Open.
The big-hitting American, who started his round from the 10th, posted a 17th hole eagle where he holed a 10-footer at the Houston Golf Club’s eighth hole and also posted seven birdies and just two bogeys in his round of a seven under par 65.
It is easily Johnson’s best start in five appearances in Houston and also 15 shots fewer than last year’s starting score of 80.
Dustin Johnson shoots his lowest first round score at the Shell Houston Open.
As well, his 65 matched a similar score Johnson posted on the final day of the event three years ago when he was fourth behind fellow American Kyle Stanley.
“You always want to get off to a good start in any tournament, you always want to get off to a good startm and today I got off to a great start,” he said.
“I still feel like I’m playing really solid. I’m rolling the putter good. I’m excited with the rest of the week.
“And to finish eagle, birdie was really good as anytime you can make an eagle on a par-5. Hit two great shots, hit a perfect drive down left side of the fairway and a great 4-iron in there to about 10 feet and holed the putt. 9 is a tough par-3. I hit a pretty good shot, just on the fringe there about 20 feet and rolled it in.
“So, you know, overall it was a great day. You know, made two bogies, one of them was, you know, mud ball on 5. Hit a good shot, just mud took it left and got in kind of a bad lie there left of the green and didn’t get up-and-down and then had a penalty shot on the par-5, 4, right before that. So, other than that, though, it was — I felt like I played really solid today and holed some nice putts.”
A week from today, Johnson will be teeing-up in his seventh Masters with a best finish of T6th a year ago behind Jordan Spieth.
And the golf world knows how close Johnson has come to winning a maiden Major twice in the U.S. Open and then the now infamous cruel penalty at the 72nd on hole in the 2010 PGA Championship.
However when asked if he felt he needed to play this week ahead of going into a Major he remarked: “No. I’m probably 50 percent, you know, 50 percent of the time I play before, 50 percent of the time I don’t. Just all depends on the schedule and how — it doesn’t matter either way. It doesn’t matter to me. I don’t plan to have a week off or plan to play before. Just however the schedule falls.
“Last week, you know, I felt like I needed to get some more rounds in. Especially after I lost the first round, I thought I was going to be out of there pretty quickly and ended up playing a little bit further. And so that’s why I decided to play here. I just felt like I needed to play a few more competitive rounds and get the game in really good shape going into Augusta.”
And his chances of finally winning the game’s highest level?
Well, the 31-year winner of nine PGA Tour titles was at his laid-back best.
“No. I just feel like myself going into next week ready to play,” said.
