AUGUSTA, Ga. — Rain has softened Augusta National a bit more than the tournament directors would like, but Dustin Johnson doesn’t think it will make the course play any easier when the first round of the 83rd Masters gets underway on Thursday.
“I’ve played the course all different ways,” Johnson said this week. “It doesn’t matter. If you play good, you’re going to shoot a good score whether it’s firm and fast or if it’s soft. You’ve still got to hit really good golf shots.”
Johnson’s prodigious length off the tee would seem to give the 2016 U.S. Open champion an advantage. It might on most courses. But Augusta National’s main defense is its contoured greens, making the second shot more important than the first.
“Obviously when it’s really firm and fast and there’s some wind, it makes it very difficult,” Johnson said, “because the greens get very tricky. When they are a little softer, you have longer clubs in. But you can hold the greens a little bit easier. It’s still going to play fairly difficult because it’s so long.”
His best finish at the Masters was a tie for fourth in 2016. A year later, he was the betting favorite, but missed the tournament when he slipped and injured his back the night before the first round. He tied for 10th last year. A 20-time winner on Tour and former No. 1 in the world, Johnson is poised to contend for a green jacket.
“I mean, it all feels pretty good,” Johnson said. “For me, the biggest part of my game is going to be the short game. Especially around here, you have to chip and putt it well if you’re going to have a good week.”
Augusta National should dry out fairly quickly unless it gets more rain after play concludes Thursday. Additional rain is in the forecast for the remainder of the weekend. Johnson is ready for anything.
“I feel like the game is in very good form right now,” he said. “For me, it’s all going to be up to my putting. I like these greens. They have a lot of slope in them. I like to see the ball breaking. I’m comfortable on the greens. I think if I can roll it well, I think I’ll be right there come Sunday.”
Some might suggest Johnson, 34, is a bit of a underachiever, having won just one major championship. He doesn’t argue the point.
“I would have definitely liked to have won a couple more,” he said. “I’ve had some very good opportunities that I didn’t capitalize on. Whether it’s disappointed or frustrated, one of those would be OK to describe that. But I mean, it’s golf. The game’s very frustrating and disappointing at times. But I think I’m happy with my career so far.”