By Josh Kendall The State (Columbia, S.C.)
AUGUSTA, GA. – The Masters is, unsurprisingly, Dustin Johnson's favorite tournament on the professional golf calendar.
Until Thursday, it was also the only major championship in which Johnson never had been a factor. He changed that with a first-round 67 to put him one shot off the lead heading into Friday's second round.
"It's always one that I look forward to playing and enjoy coming here," the South Carolina native said. "My friends and family get to come down and watch. You know, it's a lot of fun. I've played OK here in the past, just not great. It feels good."
It was Johnson's best round in three trips to Augusta National Golf Club and the second time he has shot in the 60s.
"This is one of those courses, the more you play it, the more you get to know it," he said.
Johnson, who missed last year's Masters because of a back injury, never has finished better than 30th here, but he looked comfortable in an afternoon group that never had to deal with the inclement weather many feared would move into the area.
The 28-year-old practiced at Augusta less this year than he has in the past, he said, playing 27 holes on Monday and Tuesday.