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Dustin Johnson wins first Masters in style with record winning score at Augusta

Dustin Johnson of the US (L) is presented his green jacket by defending champion Tiger Woods - Shutterstock
Dustin Johnson of the US (L) is presented his green jacket by defending champion Tiger Woods - Shutterstock

Dustin Johnson was not crowned as any old normal Masters champion - if there is such a thing - here on Sunday, but as the champion who took fewer strokes than any decked in green before. A Masters like no other, hailed a winner with a score like no other - 20-under, 268 shots.

It is such an appropriate accolade for a five-shot winning performance so dominant it would surely have sucked out all of the atmosphere even if any patrons had been allowed in here. Johnson, the South Carolina boy from an hour up Interstate-20, has always been made to enter the Butler Cabin and the sight of Tiger Woods putting the jacket around his countryman’s wide shoulders seemed nothing less than befitting.

Starting with a four-shot advantage, there was a measure of drama in the opening stages when first the Korean Sung-jae Im closed to within a shot after five holes and then the Australian Cameron Smith took up the baton to reduce the deficit to two with the back nine to play. And the world No 1 was indeed jittery as he set out to attain that status of multiple “major-winner" his supreme talent and athleticism have always demanded. 

Yet with the pressure of the stats book showing that Johnson had held four 54-leads in the majors before and never once got the job done, the mighty specimen consigned all those memories of major calamities, of five major runners-up finishes to the past and strolled clear, quickly putting to bed the notion that Georgia would again be a dramatic swing state.

As the minutes counted down, it became obvious that Johnson’s battle was not with the rest on this particular leaderboard but with the 18-under mark set by Woods in 1997 and Jordan Spieth in 2015. Three birdies in succession from the 13th help him easy away in that race, too, and the manner in which he reeled of this trio says so much about the standard he now sets.

Johnson could have gone for the 13th and 15th in two, but chose to lay up on these par fives and allow his wedge game and putting do the necessaries. They are two aspects of his game that have radically improved - the latter only recently - and that bodes so well for his future - and so ominously for everyone else.

In his last seven outings, Johnson’s worst finish has been sixth in the US Open and in this remarkable, ‘Tigeresque’ run he has won the $15m FedEx Cup as well as this hallowed garland with its own $2.1m bounty. The can be no doubting who is golf’s dominant force.

Credit to Smith and Im, because where the heavyweights failed in keeping Johnson honest, they gallantly pressed forwards and were fully worthy of their tie for second on 15-under courtesy a pair of 69s.

Smith attained some history of his own as the first player in the Masters ever to post all four rounds in the 60s. Three further beak in fourth came world No 3 Justin Thomas, with Rory McIlroy another shot behind in a tie for fifth with South African Dylan Fritelli.

McIlroy added a bit of zip to the early proceedings with three birdies in the first six holes and when he hit the par-five eighth in two, had an eagle putt to close within three shots of Johnson. He birdied, but gave the shot back with an ugly bogey on the 10th, that par four where his infamous meltdown began when leading going into the back nine nine years ago.

McIlroy birdied the 13th and then parred in for a 67 and an 11-under total. The 31-year-old’s tie for fifth represents his second best Masters and some might claim that he is getting ever closer to achieving the career grand slam. Except, his challenge was effectively over when he fired that opening 75. From there on in, it was a forlorn game of catch-up for whoever was to take the plaudits on the 18th green. On an annual basis, McIlroy seems to be denied by one bad round.

For the second successive year, the champion’s walk up the 18th arrived before 3pm - in 2019 in order not to clash with thunderstorms, in 2020 in order not to clash with the NFL and of course, the scenes were radically different. A gallery of about 600 politely clapped Johnson’s triumph, while it seemed as if all of Augusta had been out there 18 months before to witness Tiger Woods’s major resurrection.

Yet the great disparity in mood did not make Johnson’s glory any less impressive and, as he hugged his caddie/brother, Austin, and kissed his wife, Paulina Gretzky, this could be viewed in certain respects as another redemptive golfing tale. In 2014, Johnson had taken six months “personal leave” after testing positive for recreational drugs and there was plenty of chatter about his dedication. That has long been silenced and now this major he craved the most will surely allow his legacy to go untainted.

A quiet individual, Johnson’s journey from rock bottom to the summit has been accomplished with that wonderfully languid stride of his. Not every redeeming hero is dressed in red and fist-pumps and screams towards the heavens.

As it was, Woods’s own Sunday provided a contrast so stark that perhaps only this maddening game would ever have dared staging it. Last year, the turning point towards his fifth green jacket arrived on the par-three 12th, when rivals Brooks Koepka, Francesco Molinari and Tony Finau all found Rae’s Creek.

Dustin Johnson is hugged by his wife Pauline Gretzky - AP
Dustin Johnson is hugged by his wife Pauline Gretzky - AP

This time, it was Woods who located the water, not once but three times on the way to taking a septuple 10, his first double-digit score on a hole in 24 years and more than 23,000 holes as a professional.

Such a humiliating experience would cause many pros to unravel, but not Woods, who wanted to prove he was a proud champion. There were six holes remaining and he remarkably birdied five of them for a 76 and a one-under total. There is simply no quit in the phenomenon.

Bryson DeChambeau finished one ahead of Woods, but the pre-Masters favourite saw his final-round 73 bettered by the 71 of his playing partner - 63-year-oldBernhard Langer. On Saturday, DeChambeau revealed he has been suffering from dizzy spells and he claimed after this 73 that his orientation was still badly affected.

Meanwhile, it was head down and onwards for Langer, the two-time winner who finished on three-under as the oldest player ever to make the Masters cut. Yes, there was more than one champion’s display. April cannot come soon enough and nor can the returning patrons.


08:37 PM

That's all from me

A thoroughly enjoyable four day's golf ends with the World No 1 driving home an emphatic victory and his second major title. James Corrigan's full report will be available for you delectation shortly. 


08:18 PM

The jacket is on


08:16 PM

As Sly and the Family Stone sang: It's a family affair


08:14 PM

High praise from Luke Donald


08:00 PM

Dustin finally has a Green Jacket

"I've finally got one of those," Johnson says as he walks off the 72nd green and sees his mate Bubba Watson wearing a Green Jacket. They might want to note down Johnson's measurements because he will have many more chances in the years to come. 


07:56 PM

Major number two for Dustin Johnson


07:54 PM

DUSTIN JOHNSON WINS THE 84TH MASTERS

Lags his birdie putt down to within six inches, and he taps in for a five-stroke victory and record four-round total of 20 under-par. The celebration is very under-stated in typical fashion, but Johnson has been in a class of his own this week. 


07:50 PM

Tiger Woods on his response to the 10

"This is unlike any other sport in which you're so alone out there and you have to figure it out and you have to fight and no one is going to bring you off the mound or call in a sub and you just have to figure it out, and I did coming in. That's part of our sport. That's what makes this game so unique and so difficult mentally. We've all been there, unfortunately. Unfortunately I've been there and you just have to turn around and figure out the next shot, and I was able to do that coming home."

07:47 PM

No mistake from Johnson

He has his wedge in hand ready to play as soon as it is his turn, which is refreshing to see, and he plays safely to the right side of the green. Just the formalities to complete now, before Tiger Woods slips the Green Jacket on him. 


07:41 PM

Smith almost holes his chip!

That was beautifully done and it will be a final round of 69. And the record is his: the first player in Masters history to shoot four rounds in the 60s. 


07:39 PM

Booming drive on the last from Johnson

That drive had an extra bit of force behind it, and Johnson gets it up as far as the second bunker. Ideally placed in the fairway. Im also finds the short grass.


07:38 PM

Johnson cleans up for par on the 17th

He will stand on the 18th tee with a five shot lead, the kind of thing golfers dream about. He can walk up the hill towards the green and soak it all in, despite the lack of fans. 

On the 18th, Smith comes up a little shy. He needs to get up and down to become the first player in Masters history to have four rounds in the 60s. Even Johnson has not managed that. 


07:31 PM

Johnson safely on the 17th green

This has turned into a procession now and Johnson allows himself a smile. Credit to Im and Smith who have not let themselves down with a total of -15. They look to have the games to come back and compete at Augusta again. 


07:22 PM

Another wonderful drive from Johnson

Splits the fairway on the 17th and has the all-time Masters record in his hands. 


07:15 PM

McIlroy finishes up on the 18th

A two-putt par leaves Rory at -11 but there have been some good signs this week, particularly on and around the greens. His playing partner Koepka also sees a birdie putt slip by and will finish at -10. 


07:12 PM

Johnson's birdie at the 15th


07:08 PM

Johnson reaches -20

He rolls in the putt for a four on the 15th and goes to where no man at Augusta has walked before at TWENTY under par. Soft conditions or not, it is some display of ball-striking. 


07:02 PM

Some players making late moves

Rahm has gone eagle-birdie at 15 and 16 to move to -10 while an eagle from Justin Thomas at the 15th sees him jump to -13 and into the top five.

Johnson's wedge on 15 was beautifully controlled and he will have another makeable birdie putt to reach -20. 


06:54 PM

On the 15th

Sensible play from Johnson again, who found himself behind the trees on the left and so laid up short of the water. Smith hit a wild hook left of everything but got lucky, and took advantage of his fortune to set up a birdie chance. 


06:46 PM

Another Johnson birdie

Textbook golf on the 14th, and he reaches -19, only the second player in the history of the Masters to reach that score. Jordan Spieth did at one stage in 2015. 


06:31 PM

The moment the door closed?


06:30 PM

Johnson safely aboard on the 13th

Sends a wedge well beyond the hole, taking the creek out of play, and spins the ball back towards the pin. He then stands up and rolls the birdie putt in from 20 feet to reach -18. That is surely that. Johnson needs to pick up one more shot to match Woods' Masters record total set in 1997. Im also birdied to stay within four. 


06:20 PM

Mud on Johnson's ball on the 13th

Takes the decision out of his hands: he nudges one down the fairway and will play the hole as a three-shotter. No need for risks with a three-shot lead. 


06:17 PM

Woods finishes with another birdie

That is some display of composure and resilience from the 2019 champion. After making a 10 on the par-three-12th, Woods has proceeded to birdie five of his final six holes to restore some pride. He has played some excellent golf this week, but was stymied by a lukewarm putter and that hectic Saturday schedule. If he maintains fitness, Woods can contend again in April. 


06:11 PM

McIlroy and Koepka within birdie range at 14

As is Fleetwood, three cracking approaches even if they are too far back to win. Johnson two-putts the 12th and now has birdie chances in front of him. Par-par-par on 10, 11, 12 is stellar with a lead. 


06:07 PM

As things stand

-17 Johnson (11)

-14 Smith (12)

-13 Im (11)

-11 McIlroy (13), Frittelli (12), Thomas (12)


06:04 PM

Johnson looking supreme


06:02 PM

That might be the shot that closes the door

No time wasted for Johnson on the 12th, and he fires his tee shot into the heart of the green, no more that 15 feet or so left of the flag. The shot of a champion that one. 


05:58 PM

McIlroy's eagle putt slips by on the 13th

But it was a good try and he moves to -11 with the birdie. Same story for Koepka who makes birdie to move to -9. Johnson's par putt at the 11th just catches enough of the left edge but it's in...and he walks to the 12th tee with a three-shot lead. 


05:54 PM

Really good hands from Johnson

Judges his pitch beautifully and will have six feet or so to save his par at the difficult 11th. 


05:49 PM

Cracking shot from McIlroy from the first cut

Drilled a five iron into the heart of the par five green and will have 20 feet or so for eagle. 

Back at the 11th, Johnson has pushes his second shot out to the right and he will have a difficult pitch. Understandable though, with the water waiting on the left. Ahead of Johnson, Smith bogeyed the 11th so he has a three-shot lead. 


05:39 PM

McIlroy misses the 13th fairway

His tee shot with three-wood was a little too straight on this sharp dog-leg left, running out of fairway and finding the first cut. Smith will have a tricky chip on the way after missing the 11th green to the right. Johnson splits another fairway on the same hole. 


05:34 PM

Johnson lags his birdie putt on the 10th

That will be a par four. Keeps his lead at two and ticks off another difficult hole. Im also makes par to stay at -13. 


05:34 PM

McIlroy saves par from sand on 12

He held his nerve well there to stay at -10. On the same hole, Koepka had his putt rolling right into the middle but left it short. 


05:32 PM

Reasons to cheer for Fleetwood

His chip and run on the 12th was running well past the hole, but it strikes the flag and drops into the bottom of the cup. That is a welcome break from the Englishman. Gets him back to -7. 


05:28 PM

On the treacherous 12th

Koepka is safe on the back edge, but McIlroy is in the the back bunker. The flags are starting to flap in the freshening breeze now, Augusta is showing its teeth. 


05:27 PM

Smith has been so, so impressive

Knocked in a good length putt for par at the 10th and has split the fairway on the tough 11th. No sign of weakness from Johnson on 10 then, who has fizzed a low draw into the heart of the green. 


05:18 PM

Johnson made himself work for a par at nine

He rolls in a three foot return putt on the ninth and walks to the 10th tee with a two-shot lead. They say the Masters starts on the back nine on Sunday...and Johnson is about to enter this rollercoaster part of the course. Splits the fairway on the 10th which is a good start. 


05:04 PM

Cam Smith reaches the turn in 33

He knocks in that birdie putt at the ninth and cuts the lead to two. He has played delightfully in this front nine. 


05:03 PM

More brilliance from Cameron Smith

His approach from rough into the ninth looked like running over the green, but it caught the slope behind the pin and rolled back to within kick-in range for birdie. Elsewhere, Johnson has made birdie at the par five eighth, McIlroy bogeyed the 10th and Woods responded to that 10 with a birdie at 13. 


04:47 PM

Tiger Woods disaster at the 12th

The defending champion has just made a 10 (TEN) at the par three. His eight-iron tee shot came up short in Rae's Creek, he spun his shot from the drop zone back into the water, before his next attempt flew into the back bunker. He had no stance from there, and his bunker shot shot back into the pond. He splashed out and two-putted for a 10. 


04:39 PM

Scrambling at the seventh

Im's bunker shot was impossible, no way could he stop that on the green, and it cost him a bogey. Johnson was in the sand short, but playing up hill made all the difference and he got up and down for par. McIlroy and Koepka parred the ninth. 


04:31 PM

On the ninth

McIlroy finds the correct plateau but it will only be an outside chance of a birdie. Im makes a big error on the seventh missing the green long - he will be playing back down a marble staircase from there. 


04:28 PM

Cameron Smith's brilliance on the seventh


04:24 PM

What a three on the seventh from Smith

The lead is two again as Smith finishes off his wonderful second from trees to make an unlikely birdie. Back on the tee, Johnson has lost his tee shot a touch to the right and it comes to rest in the first cut. 

Im stands up and smokes one straight down the middle. McIlroy does likewise with a glorious tee shot down the ninth to continue his momentum. 


04:21 PM

Johnson on the sixth

He responded to those back-to-back bogeys with a pin-point tee shot on the sixth to within six feet or so, and he rolled it in the front door to move back to -16. A great bounceback. 

Im played another good chip but on this occasion the putter lets him down and he makes bogey. The lead is back to three. 


04:18 PM

What a shot from Smith on the seventh

Carves one out of the pines to the right of seven and it comes to rest about eight feet below the hole for birdie. 

At the par five eighth, two big hits put McIlroy in the middle of the green and he two-putts for a kick-in birdie that moves him to -11, within four of the lead. 


04:16 PM

Im's short-game magic


04:09 PM

Johnson misses his par putt

That was a great attempt at an escape act from Johnson, but he fell at the final hurdle as his par putt dribbled by the right edge. Back-to-back bogeys for Johnson to fall back to -15. 

Im's short game has been a joy to watch, and another brilliant pitch saves him par. Stays at -14 and the lead is one. 


04:01 PM

That's a big, big moment

Im had the chance to put the pressure on at five, but missed the green long and left in Cam Smith territory. Johnson then stands up and fires a wedge to within 10 feet, finding the correct level. Will have that putt to save par. 


03:59 PM

Dropped shots on the fifth from Frittelli and Smith

The former is back to -10 and the latter back to -13. Johnson has had to lay up from sand on the par four, so will need to get up and down with wedge from the fairway. 

On the seventh, Koepka has chipped in for birdie to reach -9 but McIlroy could only make par. 


03:54 PM

Johnson in sand on the fifth

He aimed at the bunkers on the left but hit his drive dead straight and found the first of them. Those bunkers are extremely deep on five too so he is up against it. 

McIlroy on the seventh did not throw his wedge shot far enough up the green and the ball spins back down to the front edge. 


03:52 PM

McIlroy is making a strong run

He hits a low bullet that peels from left to right down the seventh fairway into ideal position. Will have not much more than a wedge from there and a par five to come on the eighth, Meanwhile, Smith is out of position long and left of the fifth green. 


03:49 PM

Johnson's par putt does slip past the left edge

The lead is two once again, Johnson back to -16. Just his third bogey of the week. 


03:46 PM

Im's touch around the greens


03:45 PM

Birdie for Sung-jae Im

His three on the third moves him level with Smith at -14. Johnson might be about to drop a shot at the fourth...his tee shot on the par three got stuck on the apron short of the green and his approach putt came up eight feet shy. 


03:41 PM

Birdie for McIlroy at the sixth

He reaches double digits under par with a delightful two at the par three. He has played as well as anyone (bar Johnson) since that first round 75. If only he could have it back. 


03:38 PM

Johnson's birdie at three


03:34 PM

Ancer drops a shot at the third

He tumbles back to -11. Good scrambling from Koepka and McIlroy to save par at the fifth. They are both locked on eight-under. 

And Johnson then rolls in his sliding, left-to-right birdie putt to move to -17. The lead is three again. Par-par-birdie is an solid start playing with a lead on Sunday. 


03:30 PM

A little heavy-handed from Johnson at the short-par four third

His pitched second runs towards the back edge, but should still be a par at worst. Ancer is struggling for par after missing the green and finding the left bunker. 


03:29 PM

Smith's birdies


03:26 PM

Another birdie for Cameron Smith

Well judged wedge and the perfect putt on the third, and the Australian closes to within two shots of Johnson. Unfortunately, he then finds the left bunker on the tough par-three fourth. 


03:18 PM

The lead is down to three

Birdies at the second for Smith and Im to reach -13 but Ancer misses a short one and fails to join them. Frittelli leaves a birdie putt short at the third and he stays at -11. 


03:14 PM

The first mistake from Johnson...

He tired to be too cute with his pitch over the bunker at the second and it failed to make the journey. Will now need to get up and down from sand to save par. 

Johnson is giving this one his full attention...and plays it really well. Lands it on the fringe and lets it run out to within a few feet. That's a par to stay at -16. 


03:12 PM

Patrick Reed struggling at the third

Came up short with his wedged second and then a chip shot fails to make it to the putting surface. Surprising stuff from a shot game specialist. On the same hole, Rahm's birdie try narrowly slips by. McIlroy's birdie putt at the fourth also missed. 


03:08 PM

Back up the second fairway

Johnson's tee shot carried the bunker but did catch the first cut of rough. Left Johnson almost 270 yards in, and he hit a low growler down the hill that came up short of the bunker guarding the right-hand pin. Will be a fiddly one from there. 


03:06 PM

Sloppy stuff from Thomas

He makes a six at the par five second and falls back to -9. Meanwhile, Woods found tree trouble at the seventh and was forced to lay up. 


03:03 PM

McIlroy finally takes advantage of one of these early chances

Converts for birdie at the third to reach -9, and sends his tee shot at the par-three fourth to within 15 feet of the hole and below the hole. Another good chance to reach double digits. 


02:58 PM

Birdies at the par five second for Rahm and Fleetwood

They reach -9. The chasing pack really need to get their skates on if they are to put pressure on Johnson. The leader also has two good birdie chances coming up at the second and third. 


02:54 PM

Par start for Johnson

No sign of early nerves from Johnson as he cleans up for par on the first green. Pars too for Smith and Ancer in the final group.


02:50 PM

Good recovery from Johnson

Finds the heart of the green and will have a birdie putt of 30 feet or more coming up. 


02:49 PM

Johnson's tee shot did find the sand I believe

So an early test coming up. Koepka and Rory failed to take advantage of the par five second, both recording fives to stay at -8. Woods has dropped shot at the tough fifth to return to level for the day. 


02:48 PM

Dustin Johnson on the first tee

Pegs up on the right hand side of the teebox, opening up the angle to hit a fade. He is leaning a little bit on this three-wood, may have lost it a touch right, and the cameras have not picked it up. Looks like it may have flirted with the bunker. 


02:35 PM

Jon Rahm starts with a bogey

He drops back to -8. It has been a bit of  struggle since that top on the par five eighth yesterday. 


02:32 PM

Matsuyama opens his account

Birdie four at the par five second, and he moves to -9. Still seven behind Johnson, who the rest of the field will hope gets off to a rocky start to open this tournament up. Trouble in the left trees for Jon Rahm, who faces a trusting 10-footer to save par at the first. 


02:25 PM

Fast start from Cameron Champ

He joins the group of players on -8 after a birdie-birdie start. DeChambeau aside, Champ is the longest hitter on the US tour. 


02:20 PM

McIlroy misses a chance on the first

Fired a wedge in there to eight feet but the putt doesn't drop. Koepka was more scruffy, missing fairway and green, but got it up and down to save par. Both players stay at -8. 


02:15 PM

Par for Woods at the third

Laid back with an iron on the short par four, but couldn't get his wedge to within birdie range. In fairness, it is a very tight pin on the left of the green and it is hard to control the spin in these soft conditions.


02:14 PM

The players at -8 are starting their rounds

Matsuyama has parred the first while McIlroy has launched a beauty straight down the middle of the fairway. Will not have much more than a wedge in from there. Koepka leaked his drive to the right, but it looks to have cleared the bunker and will leave a good angle to this front left pin. 


01:57 PM

What creativity on display at the second

First, Marc Leishman does this:

Then Woods plays a delightful flop shot from long and left of the green that hopped, skipped, checked and lipped out. A tap-in birdie though to move to six-under.  


01:45 PM

More good driving from Woods

Gives it the recoil after impact and pounds one over the corner of the dog leg at the second. Will be able to take on the green in two at this par five from there. Elsewhere, Lee Westwood has started birdie-birdie to reach -5. 


01:37 PM

Just a par four for Woods at the first

Left his approach with a short iron hanging out to the right, but did well to two-putt from 35 feet. A par is never a bad score on the testing first. 


01:29 PM

Cracking tee shot off the first from Woods

Challenges the bunker on the right with driver, and his ball settles on the right side of the fairway. Just 140 yards or so remaining from there. 


01:27 PM

The big talking point so far

The pin on the par-three 16th is not in its usual back left spot, which allows the players to feed the ball in off the slope in the middle of the green. There is often a hole in one when they put the pin there, and who could forget Tiger Woods' magical chip-in from over the back in 2005. Today, the hole will be cut in a harder position in the back right of the green. 

It's not entirely new, in fairness. Witness Jack Nicklaus holing a tram-liner up the hill on the 16th en route to victory in 1975. 


01:23 PM

Early reports from Augusta

The breeze is expected to gust to speeds of around 20mph, which could certainly make things interesting. Could a player post a low number and watch all about them fall to pieces? It's a long shot, and Dustin Johnson has the strong, penetrating ball flight to do well in the wind. 


01:13 PM

Is it Johnson's time?

Dustin Johnson has a place in the record books and a second major title in his sights as he takes a commanding lead into the final round of the 84th Masters.

The world number one fired an eagle and five birdies in a flawless third round of 65 at Augusta National to finish 16 under par and match the 54-hole scoring record set by Jordan Spieth in 2015.

A closing 69 or better would see Johnson surpass the 72-hole record of 18 under, shared by Spieth and defending champion Tiger Woods, who was the last world number one to win the Masters in 2002.

Australia's Cameron Smith, Mexico's Abraham Ancer and Korea's Sungjae Im were Johnson's nearest challengers on 12 under, with Ancer and Im attempting to become the first players to win the green jacket on their tournament debut since Fuzzy Zoeller in 1979.

The start of play in the final round of the Masters was delayed by 10 minutes at Augusta National on Sunday. Play was due to get under way at 07:50 local time (12:50GMT) from both the first and 10th tees, but was pushed back briefly due to fog.

That meant that world number one Dustin Johnson, who holds a four-shot lead in pursuit of his second major title, was now due to tee off at 09:39 local time (14:39GMT).

It looks Johnson's title to lose, but he has wobbled on the big stage before. He three-putted to 72nd green to lose the 2015 US Open to Jordan Spieth at Chambers Bay and endured heartache at the 2011 USPGA when a rules infringement put pay to his chances at Whistling Straits. He finally broke his major duck at the 2016 US Open, but one major is a meagre return for a player of his ability. 

Tiger Woods is among the early starters, and could secure at least a top 10 finish with a round in the mid 60s. Jon Rahm and Brooks Koepka start seven and eight back respectively, but have the class to post a score that could set nerves jangling.