Top-ranked defending champion Dustin Johnson teed off Thursday at the Masters looking to become only the fourth back-to-back winner at Augusta National as the battle for the green jacket began. Johnson, who also won the 2016 US Open, joined England's Lee Westwood, trying to become the oldest Masters winner at age 47, and 2020 US Amateur winner Tyler Strafaci as 88 players faced a course playing firm and fast in practice rounds.

"I've seen a few of the young guys with that 'Deer in the headlights' look after seeing a few of these greens," England's Paul Casey said. Johnson, who fired a course-record 20-under par 268 to capture last November's Covid-delayed Masters in rain-softened conditions, could join Tiger Woods, Jack Nicklaus and Nick Faldo as the only back-to-back Masters winners, the first since Woods in 2001-02. Augusta National welcomed the first spectators at a major championship since 2019 after Covid-19 forced a ban on fans last year. A limited number of patrons, reportedly about 12,000, were allowed under virus safety protocols.