Ernie Els didn’t know how he’d feel stepping onto the first tee at Augusta National on Thursday afternoon to open what will likely be his final Masters. He wasn’t going to over-analyse it, nor try to escape it.
It’s no surprise to form watchers that Marc Leishman leads the Australian assault on the Masters after round one. And by the sound of the big Victorian, it’s no shock to him, either.
Dustin Johnson said on Thursday afternoon at Augusta National that he was “going to give it a try”, despite suffering a freak injury to his lower back during a fall at his rental home a day earlier. He never teed off.
On an otherwise dark, damp Wednesday at Augusta National Golf Club, there was a bright side for Masters officials: the forecast offers wind on Thursday and Friday, but little in the way of wet weather for the remainder of the week.
With a soaking rain on Monday and Wednesday, Augusta National Golf Club won’t be playing quite as firm and fast as officials might have hoped when the tournament begins tonight. The change in conditions may prove particularly fateful for one player.
Dustin Johnson, the world’s No.1-ranked player and the favourite entering the week to win the green jacket, is questionable to compete in the Masters after suffering a freak back injury on Wednesday.
Australian Golf Digest
