GOLF Johnson favoured as Masters looms

Augusta (United States), April 2: Top-ranked Dustin Johnson enters next week’s 81st Masters confident about his first Augusta National outing as a major champion and a heavy favourite after three consecutive PGA triumphs.

The 32-year-old American, who grew up only an hour’s drive from the famed layout, shook off a history of major near-misses to win the US Open last June at Oakmont, changing his Magnolia Lane mindset.

“You definitely have a different mentality,” Johnson said. “Now I’m not going into a major trying to win my first one. I’ve got one. So it’s definitely a nice feeling.”

Johnson became world no. 1 with a February victory at Riviera and followed that with triumphs at the World Golf Championships Mexico and WGC Match Play events. “I’ve got a lot of confidence now, confidence in my game and in myself,” Johnson said. “I just need to keep working hard, keep trying to get better.” Four-time major winner McIlroy, who would complete a career Grand Slam with a Masters victory, is pleased with his game despite a rib injury keeping him to only 10 rounds in March. “I’ve worked on my short game. I feel like that part of my game is as sharp as it has been ever going into Augusta,” McIlroy said.

“I felt good. I can’t see a downside to not having played as much as I planned. I feel healthy.”

McIlroy shared seventh at Mexico and fourth at Bay Hill before a group-stage ouster at the Match Play.