Johnson’s tweaked putting pays dividends

Dustin Johnson is using a new technique for his putting and he likes the results.

Frustrated over not seeing enough putts go in over the last three months, Johnson tried the “Aimpoint” method that some players use to help them read the greens. He opened with six birdies on the back nine, only once had a putt over 3 feet for par and wound up with a 6-under 66 to share the firstround lead with five others at The Players Championship.

Alex Noren, Webb Simpson, Chesson Hadley, Patrick Cantley and Matt Kuchar also were at 66.

Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson, playing together for the first time in nearly four years, were out in the afternoon when the light wind was a little stronger. Johnson and the early birds couldn’t ask for better scoring conditions at the TPC Sawgrass.

Johnson, whose No. 1 ranking is in jeopardy this week, made the putts he had been missing in Mexico and Riviera, at Augusta National and Hilton Head.

So he had one of his coaches, Allen Terrell, teach the method to Austin Johnson, his brother and caddie. And then the world’s No. 1 player picked it up quickly, and they were on their way.

Woods was at even par, Mickelson posted a 79, his highest score at Sawgrass since 2000 and Jordan Spieth found the water three times in recording a 75, meaning he will have to work hard today to make the cut.