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.