Dustin Johnson plays ‘pretty solid round’ Thursday at the Masters

Dustin Johnson was 2-over par after four holes, but he was nowhere close to panicking.

“I’d rather be 2-over after four holes than 2-over after 17 holes, any day,” the Irmo native said after shooting a 2-under 70 on Thursday in the first round of the 79th Masters.

Johnson quickly got back to even par by making birdies on the fifth and sixth holes to finish the front nine at even par 36. A bogey-free back nine with birdies on 10 and 13 left him six shots back of leader Jordan Spieth.

“I hit a couple of bad shots, but other than that I played pretty solid,” Johnson said. “A 70 in the first round – 2-under – that’s never bad. I’m not out of it.”

Johnson said he putted great all day and could have made more birdies, but said he had several putts lip out.

He called the long birdie putt he made on the par-4 10th hole “a bonus. It was moving pretty fast when it hit the hole.”

Johnson’s 67 in the opening round in 2013 was the only time he has shot better than his 70 Thursday in six Masters appearances. He shot 77 on Thursday this past year when he missed the cut.

Old Guys, Part 1 Tom Watson, 65, might have another Masters run in him, after all.

The former champion has missed the cut in 15 of the past 17 Masters. But he had an opening 1-under 71.

“Yeah, I want to make the cut, Watson said. “Yeah, I haven’t done that for a few years.”

Watson said he has played at Augusta National enough times to know where he’s supposed to hit it, and where he’s not supposed to.

“It was fun to at least be in red figures (under par) at Augusta National,” Watson said. “At my age, that’s, it’s a minor miracle.”

Old Guys, Part 2 Honorary starters Arnold Palmer, Jack Nicklaus and Gary Player, as usual, had a great time determining who had the longest drive.

Nicklaus said Player did.

Palmer said he did.

Player could not get in a word before Nicklaus added, “After Arnold, Gary.”

The three golf legends also were asked about the Masters 50 years ago when they were tied for the lead after two rounds.

Nicklaus: “What year was that, 1965?”

Player: “I remember it; the wrong man won.”

Palmer: “I don’t remember anything.”

Nicklaus went on to win, with Player and Palmer tying for second.

This story was originally published April 9, 2015 at 11:16 PM with the headline "Dustin Johnson plays ‘pretty solid round’ Thursday at the Masters."