Dustin Johnson Continues to Struggle at 2021 PGA Championship with 2-over Round 2
May 21, 2021
KIAWAH ISLAND, SOUTH CAROLINA - MAY 21: Dustin Johnson of the United States looks on from the tenth green during the second round of the 2021 PGA Championship at Kiawah Island Resort's Ocean Course on May 21, 2021 in Kiawah Island, South Carolina. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images)
Dustin Johnson finished his second
round three shots below the projected three-over cut line in the 2021 PGA
Championship after shooting a two-over 74 on Friday at the Kiawah
Island Ocean Course in South Carolina.
Johnson, who carded a four-over 76 in
Thursday's opening round, tallied an eagle, two birdies, four bogeys
and a double bogey during Round 2. He'll need scoring to increase
dramatically during the afternoon wave of play to have any chance of
surviving the cut.
The two-time major champion had
finished second in PGA Championship each of the past two years, but
once again couldn't tame the Ocean Course. He finished tied for 48th
the last time his home-state venue hosted the tournament in
2012.
Johnson, who started Friday's round on
the back nine, got off to a promising start with a birdie on the
par-four 10th. He posted a five on the par-three 14th and a bogey on
the 15th to halt his modest move up the leaderboard, and he couldn't
recover on the front nine.
— PGA Championship (@PGAChampionship) May 21, 2021
The 36-year-old reigning PGA Tour
Player of the Year delivered one final highlight on the seventh,
hitting his second shot on the par five from the sand to the green
and then rolling in a 54-foot eagle putt.
It was otherwise a second straight
forgettable major for DJ, who also missed the cut in the Masters in
April. He was the defending Masters champion.
Dustin Johnson on way to missing multiple major cuts in same year for the first time in 14 years of playing major championships.
Will be MCs in back-to-back major starts for the third time, though in previous two instances he didn't play Masters b/t MCs at PGA and U.S. Open.
If Friday's scores hold, it'll mark
Johnson's ninth missed cut in a major across 47 career starts.
His overall form has also dropped in
other events with just one top-10 finish in 2021 and five results of
48th or worse in his last six tournaments dating back to late
February.
Johnson will look to get back on track
over the next month before the U.S. Open tees off June 17th at Torrey
Pines in San Diego.
Dustin Johnson Struggles, Shoots Opening-Round 76 at 2021 PGA Championship
May 20, 2021
KIAWAH ISLAND, SOUTH CAROLINA - MAY 20: Dustin Johnson of the United States lines up a putt on the third green during the first round of the 2021 PGA Championship at Kiawah Island Resort's Ocean Course on May 20, 2021 in Kiawah Island, South Carolina. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images)
Dustin Johnson has a lot of work ahead as he chases his first PGA Championship title at Kiawah Island Golf Resort in his native South Carolina.
Johnson, who didn't finish lower than third in the tournament in his last two tries, opened Thursday with a four-over 76. Corey Conners leads the field at five under, with six golfers tied for second at three under.
That puts a lot of distance between Johnson and the top of the leaderboard.
The top-ranked golfer in the world got his 2021 PGA Championship off to an inauspicious start. He sliced his tee shot on No. 1, and it rolled off the fairway toward the waste bunker. His approach on the second shot sailed well past the green into another bunker before he settled for a bogey.
Johnson rebounded nicely with a birdie on No. 2 but once again got himself into trouble on the par-four fourth hole. His tee shot hooked to the left and out of bounds, forcing him to take a one-shot penalty. His approach shot wasn't much better as it bounced to the left of the green and into the thick. After finally getting onto the green with his fourth shot, Johnson two-putted his way to a double bogey.
The 36-year-old did well to mitigate the damage from there with 13 straight pars. His par save on No. 16 was particularly impressive as he successfully navigated his way out of the native area and then a green-side bunker.
In general, that run also meant he was unable to make up any ground. Consistency only goes so far once you've dug yourself into a hole.
Johnson ended his evening on a low note after his drive landed in the area and an equally sloppy approach required a drop on No. 18. That led to his second double bogey of the round.
Kiawah Island hosted the PGA Championship in 2012, when Johnson had a nondescript first round. A 79 in Round 2 doomed any hopes of a title, and he settled for a share of 48th.
It looks like this year's installment will be similarly frustrating for the two-time major champion.
Interesting that @DJohnsonPGA seems to have been ruthlessly culled from the TV broadcast...
Simply making the cut could prove to be a challenge based on how Friday gets underway.
Johnson returns to action alongside Sergio Garcia and Shane Lowry. They'll start from the No. 10 tee at 8:44 a.m. ET
Phil Mickelson on Premier Golf League: Fans Would Love to See Top Players More Often
May 5, 2021
PALM HARBOR, FLORIDA - APRIL 30: Phil Mickelson of the United States looks on from the eighth tee during the second round of the Valspar Championship on the Copperhead Course at Innisbrook Resort on April 30, 2021 in Palm Harbor, Florida. (Photo by Julio Aguilar/Getty Images)
While the idea of a soccer Super League led to plenty of outlash and criticism, count Phil Mickelson among those who are at least intrigued by the notion in golf.
Bob Harig of ESPN reported Mickelson confirmed that representatives of the Premier Golf League—a potential new international tour with large prizes and popular players—reached out to him. Harig also shared Lefty's comments in which he suggested fans would like to see the top golfers more often in what would be a Super League:
I think the fans would love it because they would see the best players play exponentially more times. Instead of four or five times, it would be 20 times ... I don't know what the final number is.
But that's a big deal to give up control of your schedule. I don't know if the players would be selfless enough to do that. But every other sport, the entity or teams or leagues control the schedule. The players kind of play where they are told to play. Whereas here, we're able to control it.
Harig reported PGA Tour commissioner Jay Monahan met with players Tuesday and said anyone who joins the Premier Golf League if it does become a reality in 2022 will be suspended and perhaps expelled from the PGA Tour.
Rory McIlroy and Justin Thomas both said they aren't interested, although the 51-year-old Mickelson is no longer in his prime compared to other headline golfers and could see this as an opportunity to make significant money at this stage of his career.
Report: Premier Golf League Making Big Offers to Dustin Johnson, Phil Mickelson
May 4, 2021
Dustin Johnson watches his tee shot on the seventh hole during the final round of the Valspar Championship golf tournament, Sunday, May 2, 2021, in Palm Harbor, Fla. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack)
The Premier Golf League, which surfaced in early 2020 as an opportunity for the world's top golfers to compete outside of the PGA and European Tours, is trying to return and wants to bring Dustin Johnson, Phil Mickelson and more of the top players along.
"It's still alive, and players and agents are just listening to their pitch," one agent told ESPN's Bob Harig. "That's about it at this point. Just a lot of listening.''
Per Harig, The Telegraph reported that the Premier Golf League's "World Tour" would begin in September 2022, coinciding with the PGA Tour season.
In addition to Johnson and Mickelson, Justin Rose and Brooks Koepka have also received offers to join the circuit, per Harig.
The tour originally planned to organize an 18-event schedule. Each event would consist of a field of 48 players and a $10 million purse, in addition to a championship at the end of the season.
The top participants in the Premier Golf League would earn $30 million up front, with team and individual results combining to secure winnings.
Rory McIlroy and Koepka both spoke out against the league in March 2020 before the coronavirus pandemic put a hold on any further developments. The PGA Tour and European Tour joined forces amid the buzz, with the PGA Tour buying stake in the European organization's media operations, according to Steve DiMeglio of USA Today.
But according to The Telegraph, a group of Saudi Arabian investors are installed in Jupiter, Florida, and awaiting responses from players to move forward with the league.
PGA Tour commissioner Jay Monahan is set to speak at a players meeting in Charlotte, North Carolina on Tuesday, where the PGA Tour will host the Wells Fargo Championship later this week, Harig said.
Masters Cut Line 2021: Full List of Players Removed from 1st Major
Apr 9, 2021
AUGUSTA, GEORGIA - APRIL 09: Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland plays a shot on the second hole during the second round of the Masters at Augusta National Golf Club on April 09, 2021 in Augusta, Georgia. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)
Some of golf's biggest names will not be playing this weekend at the Masters after failing to meet or surpass the three-over cut line at Augusta National Golf Club.
That group includes defending Masters champion and world No. 1 Dustin Johnson, a pair of four-time major winners in Rory McIlroy and Brooks Koepka and world No. 10 Patrick Cantlay.
Here's a look at the entire Masters cut list alongside some further notes on what went wrong for that four-man group this week.
Johnson, who shot a Masters tournament record 20-under last November, will not be moving onto the weekend.
It was a struggle on Thursday and Friday for Johnson, but he appeared likely to make the cut after entering Amen Corner at two over Friday.
Nothing went right for him afterward. His second shot on the par-5 15th found the water, and he could not convert a 12-footer for par.
Johnson was still safe on the cut line, but he found the pine straw on the 17th hole. To his credit, DJ hit the green in two, but he had to two-putt from 62 feet out. He could not do so and missed an eight-foot par putt.
That forced Johnson to birdie the last in order to make the weekend, but his tee shot found the sand, and his second shot landed 36 yards from the hole below the left bunker. He ended up with a bogey to go three over on the final four holes.
Rory McIlroy
McIlroy had six bogeys from the fifth through 13th holes in Round 1 en route to shooting a four-over 76 Thursday.
He still had a shot of jumping over the cut line Friday, but he went four over through the 12th hole to land at eight over heading into Amen Corner.
That stretch included a double bogey on the 10th, when McIlroy incurred a penalty stroke after his ball was lost in the bushes.
McIlroy did finish strong, posting birdies on both par-fives on Amen Corner mixed in with six pars. However, McIlroy has now missed the Masters cut for just the second time since first participating in the tournament in 2009.
Patrick Cantlay
Patrick Cantlay entered the Masters ranked eighth in the PGA Tour in strokes gained: tee-to-green, but nothing went right for him Thursday and Friday.
Cantlay shot a seven-over 79 on Thursday, and his scorecard included double bogeys on No. 12 and No. 16.
The performance on No. 16 was particularly disappointing for Cantlay, who had just birdied No. 15 to move to four over for the tournament. He was still below the cut line at that point, but he was at least within striking distance of turning his tournament around.
However, Cantlay's tee shot found the pond on No. 16. After incurring a penalty stroke, he found the green from 25 feet out for bogey. Cantlay missed that putt and finished with the double bogey.
Not much went right Friday, as Cantlay saw his score drop to 11 over after a double bogey on the 11th.
It was an undoubtedly rough week for Cantlay, but he started the 2021 calendar year finishing 15th or better in his first four tournaments. He's not that far removed from achieving good form and could very well bounce back soon enough.
Brooks Koepka
Credit to Koepka for even playing this week after undergoing surgery for a kneecap dislocation and torn knee ligament on March 16.
Specifically, Koepka underwent a medial patellofemoral ligament repair, per Ryan Lavner of Golf Channel, and that typically requires six months of rehab.
Koepka was out there less than four weeks later, and naturally, he was rusty after playing his first professional rounds of golf since that surgery.
A tough stretch from the 10th through 14th holes Thursday ultimately led to Koepka's missed cut, as he shot four over during that stretch. He also started his second round with seven pars and four bogeys through 11 holes.
To Koepka's credit, he finished strong, going one under on the final seven holes for the week. However, his five-over score overall left him two shots short of the cut.
Dustin Johnson Misses 2021 Masters Cut After Winning Tournament in 2020
Apr 9, 2021
Dustin Johnson walks off the 16th green during the second round of the Masters golf tournament on Friday, April 9, 2021, in Augusta, Ga. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)
Dustin Johnson will miss the cut at the 2021 Masters after shooting 75 in Round 2 Friday.
The defending champion sits five strokes over par overall after bogeying three of his final four holes on Friday and entered the clubhouse in a tie for 60th. The projected cut line was three over, counting the top 50 players plus ties.
Defending champion Dustin Johnson has missed the cut following a second-round 75. pic.twitter.com/LDXDLyNVs9
Johnson has been dominant at Augusta National during his career, finishing in the top 10 in each of his last five trips, including last year's victory. He didn't look quite as comfortable Thursday, finishing with a two-over 74 thanks to a double bogey on No. 18.
Things didn't improve for the 36-year-old in the second round as he appears poised to miss the cut for the first time all season.
Assuming the cut line stays at +3, Dustin Johnson will become the 3rd defending Masters champion over the last 15 years to miss the cut.
It was a busy day for Johnson, who had just two pars on the front nine and six in the entire round.
The first half featured four birdies, two bogeys and a double bogey to end up where he started the day—two over.
When things were going bad, they were going very bad, including his rough stretch on the fifth and sixth holes. He hit it into the woods off the tee on No. 5 and had a lot of trouble on the green on No. 6.
A pair of three putts put him three strokes over par on these two holes alone.
After a par on No. 7, Johnson found his form and bounced back with two straight birdies on the eighth and ninth holes.
Though it appeared he would be ready for a much stronger back nine, the adventures continued in the second half of his day. Johnson bogeyed No. 10 and then came up short on several more opportunities for birdies. He did get one back with a birdie on 12 but consistency was a problem throughout the round.
No hole defined his day more than the 15th, which started with a 350-yard drive in the middle of the fairway that was followed up by an approach shot into the water. A missed putt from about 15 feet away sealed a bogey that put him in danger of the cut line.
Another bogey on the 17th hole made his situation even worse:
Dustin Johnson thru 17: +4 The current cut line: +3
Though he could have squeezed into the weekend field with a birdie on 18, his struggles continued with another bogey to put him squarely on the wrong side of the cut line. Sitting 12 strokes behind leader Justin Rose demonstrated how far away he was from contention.
It was simply a sloppy round overall from a player capable of a lot more.
Johnson hit just nine of 14 fairways and reached the green in regulation on just 10 of his 18 holes, per the Mastersofficial site. Both marks were below the field average for Round 2.
The short game was especially a problem in the tournament with just 55.6 percent greens in regulation and five three-putts through his first 36 holes.
We have come to expect a lot more from the No. 1 ranked player in the world who has been one of the most consistent players on tour. He will need a much better showing in future events and it could be a long road back before the PGA Championship in May.
Masters 2021: Justin Rose Shoots 72, Jordan Spieth Trails by 2 Shots After 2nd Round
Apr 9, 2021
AUGUSTA, GEORGIA - APRIL 09: Justin Rose of England plays his shot from the first tee during the second round of the Masters at Augusta National Golf Club on April 09, 2021 in Augusta, Georgia. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)
Justin Rose finished his second round at The Masters exactly where he began it on Friday: seven-under par and all alone in atop the leaderboard.
His outing just wasn't anything close to as simple as that.
The 40-year-old who entered the tournament with 100-to-1 odds to win the green jacket embarked on rollercoaster of an afternoon, finishing the front nine three-over par on Friday before restoring his lead on the back half of the course.
“I was joking that the finger was heading towards the panic button a little bit. I had a little talk with myself on 8 and said, ‘You're still leading the Masters,’ and I just changed my mindset a little bit and started to play match play against the golf course. I scratched a line on my scorecard and told myself I was three down and could I go ahead and beat the golf course from that point? I had a putt on 18 to win my match, 1-up, but unfortunately it just slipped by. But an honorable draw.”
Unfortunately, the time Rose spent restoring his seven-under score gave the field an opportunity to close the four-stroke lead he'd built on Friday.
Here's a look at the top contenders at Augusta after 36 holes.
2021 Masters Friday Leaderboard
1. Justin Rose (-7)
T2. Will Zalatoris (-6)
T2. Brian Harman (-6)
T4. Marc Leishman (-5)
T4. Jordan Spieth (-5)
T6. Bernd Wiesberger (-4)
T6. Tony Finau (-4)
T6. Si Woo Kim (-4)
T6. Cameron Champ (-4)
T6. Hideki Matsuyama (-4)
12. Xander Schauffele (-3)
Notables: T13. Collin Morikawa (-2), T17. Bryson DeChambeau (-1), T17. Viktor Hovland (-1), T21. Bubba Watson (E), T21. Jon Rahm (E), T32. Gary Woodland (+1), T32. Patrick Reed (+1), T48. Phil Mickelson (+3).
Bryson DeChambeau makes birdie from the trees on No. 18. He finishes the day at one under par for the Tournament. #themasterspic.twitter.com/Y1iKOPfHI7
Rose was far from the only player who found noteworthy success with his putter on the back nine Friday. Will Zalatoris was able to cut into Rose's lead with five birdies over his last eight holes.
It was exactly what the 24-year-old from California needed after a disappointing bogey on No. 9. Zalatoris had played a mistake-free round before his second shot on No. 8 landed off the back of the green and behind the spectator ropes.
That he was able to recover with a two-putt seemed to aid his confidence before heading to the back nine.
Capping his second round off with three-consecutive birdies, Will Zalatoris is six under par for the Tournament. #themasterspic.twitter.com/Eo0pVsCkbS
However, no one had a more fascinating day on the greens than Si Woo Kim. After a rough three-putt at the Par 4 No. 14, Kim broke his putter in anger, forcing him to use a three wood to putt the rest of the way.
Following a three-putt on No. 14, Si Woo Kim breaks his putter.
Yet at the time of his outburst, Kim was very much in contention for the lead on Friday.
Kim was tied for fifth at four-under par before his disastrous attempt at No. 14. He wound up playing bogey-free golf the rest of the way to finish three-under par for the day and tied for sixth overall. Kim used two putts on each of the last four holes to end his round. Having to use his wood didn't impact him negatively, but there were a few birdie attempts that would've had a much better chance of falling in the cup with an actual putter.
Elsewhere on the course, Bernd Wiesberger and Tony Finau each shot a round of 66 to tie for the lowest score of the day. The two are now tied for sixth on the leaderboard heading into Saturday with Justin Thomas right there with them at four-under par.
Thomas cut six strokes off his game after an opening round 73 on Thursday and is in prime shape to attack the course on moving day.
That won't be the case for a number of big names as the three-over cut line claimed a host of notable victims beginning with the defending Masters champion, Dustin Johnson.
Johnson shot a 74 on Thursday and couldn't recover Friday, finishing with a 75. Matt Kuchar, Max Homa, Sergio Garcia, Danny Willett, Brooks Koepka, Lee Westwood, Rory McIlroy, Jason Day and Matthew Wolff are all heading home early with Johnson.
Assuming the cut line stays at +3, Dustin Johnson will become the 3rd defending Masters champion over the last 15 years to miss the cut.
Phil Mickelson, Adam Scott, Ian Poulter and Francesco Molinari each narrowly avoided the cut with Mickelson picking up two birdies on the back nine to keep himself in the field.
He'll be among those chasing Rose on Saturday as the Englishman attempts to win his first green jacket after finishing second in 2015 and 2017.
Masters Cut Line 2021: Latest Projections After Thursday's Leaderboard Analysis
Apr 8, 2021
Dustin Johnson and Gary Woodland walk on the 11th hole during a practice round for the Masters golf tournament on Tuesday, April 6, 2021, in Augusta, Ga. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)
Before some of the top golfers in the world set their sights on chasing down Justin Rose at The Masters, they need to avoid missing the cut.
Bryson DeChambeau, Justin Thomas and reigning champion Dustin Johnson were among the players who struggled in their first 18 holes around Augusta National Golf Club.
No member of the trio is out of contention for the win yet, but to get into a position to pounce, they must be better on Friday.
The top 50 players and ties make it through to the weekend. At the end of Thursday's round, everyone at two over or better would make the cut.
The full leaderboard with Rose on top can be found here at Masters.com.
Cut Projections
Dustin Johnson Rebounds From Slow Start
Three years ago, Johnson rebounded from a similar slow start to have a shot at contending on the weekend.
The 36-year-old opened the 2018 Masters with a 73 and then put together a score that was five strokes better on Friday.
If Johnson cleans up a few mistakes, he has an opportunity to work back over the even-par mark and get closer to the top 10. The reigning champion dropped three shots with a bogey at No. 16 and a double bogey at No. 18.
After the round, Johnson admitted that he felt "relaxed" on the course and the high score was a product of the tough conditions, per ESPN.com's Bob Harig.
"No additional pressure," Johnson said. "If anything, I'm a little more relaxed out there. Today, it just played tough.''
Johnson's overall form at Augusta over the last few years suggests that a second-round rebound is in the cards.
Dating back to 2018, Johnson has not carded consecutive rounds at 71 or above. The worst 36-hole stretch he had in that time was back-to-back 70s in 2019.
Justin Thomas Benefits From Steady Back 9
Thomas did not fare well on the opening nine, as he bogeyed the second, fifth and seventh holes.
The 27-year-old stabilized his round on the back nine to move within one shot of even par. The consistency shown on Thursday's back nine should lay the ground work for Thomas to improve his overall score on Friday.
In 2018, Thomas followed a similar opening path as Johnson, and the same thing occurred in 2019.
In both of those tournaments, the American golfer improved his second round score by at least five strokes compared to his opening mark. In 2018, he started 74-67. In 2019, he went 73-68 over 36 holes.
Thomas benefited from the low Friday scores in both competitions to finish inside the top 20. He has three straight top-20 placings at Augusta, including a fourth-place finish in November.
If Thomas brings that same consistency to Friday's round, he should finish above even par and be in a good position to make a run on Saturday.
Dustin Johnson: 'No Additional Pressure' as Masters Defending Champ After Round 1 74
Apr 8, 2021
AUGUSTA, GEORGIA - APRIL 08: Dustin Johnson of the United States reacts to a putt on the second green during the first round of the Masters at Augusta National Golf Club on April 08, 2021 in Augusta, Georgia. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)
Defending Masters champion Dustin Johnson's return to Augusta National Golf Club did not start well as he shot a two-over 74 in the first round on Thursday.
Johnson, who shot a tournament-record 20-under last November, isn't feeling any pressure as the reigning Masters winner.
"No additional pressure,'' Johnson said, per ESPN's Bob Harig. "If anything, I'm a little more relaxed out there. Today, it just played tough.''
Johnson shot one-under through 15 holes, but a bogey on the 16th and a double bogey on the 18th put him at two-over going into Friday.
Johnson is generally in good spirits, though, as he moves onto Round 2.
"I felt like I played pretty well, too,'' Johnson told reporters.
"Got it around pretty well. Obviously, the last hole kind of stings a little bit. But go to the range, hit a few plays. I feeling like I'm swinging well, playing good. Looking forward to the rest of the week.''
Nothing went right on the last hole. Johnson's tee shot found the pine straw to the right of the fairway, and he didn't have an angle to the hole.
His second shot then landed 39 yards from the green. A third shot left him with a 35-footer for par, but a three-putt left him with a double bogey.
Still, Johnson played very well through 15 holes, and if he finished under-par, he would have joined just 11 others who did so on a day that featured tough scoring conditions.
Justin Rose leads the tournament at seven-under, and Hideki Matsuyama and Brian Harman sit at three-under in second place.
Dustin Johnson Struggles En Route to Opening-Round 74 at 2021 Masters
Apr 8, 2021
Dustin Johnson hits on the first fairway during the first round of the Masters golf tournament on Thursday, April 8, 2021, in Augusta, Ga. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)
Dustin Johnson opened the 2021 Masters with a two-over 74 on Thursday at Augusta National Golf Club in Georgia to begin his defense of the green jacket he won in November.
Johnson, who posted a 65 in last year's first round to hold a share of the lead, didn't get off to an ideal start Thursday with a bogey on No. 1. He finished the day with three birdies, three bogeys and a double bogey, which came on the 18th hole.
He walked off the course tied for 37th place with the afternoon wave of play ongoing.
The two-time PGA Tour Player of the Year explained how finally winning the marquee event lifted a weight off his shoulders but didn't change his outlook for the week.
"I've won the Masters, so there's no pressure on trying to win the golf tournament," Johnson told reporters Tuesday. "But still, I want to go out and I'm defending champ, so I want to go out and put myself in a position where I've got a chance to defend my title come the back nine on Sunday."
He's proved to be a consistent contender at Augusta. He finished in the top 10 in four straight appearances before picking up the win five months ago in an event that was rescheduled from the spring to the fall because of the coronavirus pandemic.
While he couldn't match his blistering start from last year's win, he avoided disaster as Augusta showed early signs of presenting a much tougher challenge than in November, and he gave himself enough birdie looks to stay within striking distance of the leaders, even with the late struggles.
His best shot of the day came on the par-four 11th, where he was off the green facing a tricky uphill chip with his third shot. Saving par would have been a great result, but Johnson did even better as his chip rolled into the hole:
All told, the 36-year-old South Carolina native kept himself on track to accomplish his goal of having a chance come the back nine Sunday without showcasing top form.
He'll likely need to put together at least one round in the mid-60s to have a chance to repeat, but the initial signs from Round 1 suggest he won't need to match his record-setting score of 20 under from last year to retain the green jacket.
Johnson will tee off with playing partners Lee Westwood and Tyler Strafaci at 1:36 p.m. ET on Friday for their second round.
