DJ LOOKING AFTER No.1
PLAYERS CHAMPIONSHIP Johnson sets record straight with 66
BY DALE RANKIN PUMPED-UP Dustin Johnson fired a warning to his world No.1 rivals with his best score at Sawgrass in 31 attempts.
The American’s ranking as the top player on the planet – a position he has proudly held since February last year – is under threat from Justin Thomas, Jon Rahm, Jordan Spieth and Justin Rose.
But he showed his intent to cling on to it with a blistering opening 66 at the Players Championship.
The former US Open champ posted six birdies in an error-free round to share the clubhouse lead with compatriot Webb Simpson and Sweden’s Alex Noren.
Rose is just two shots off the top after a 68 but Thomas could only card a one-over 73 and Spieth slumped to a 75 that featured four bogeys, a double bogey and an eagle on the short par-four 12th.
Johnson is the man to beat after his first bogey-free round at Sawgrass where he has often struggled.
The 33-year-old said: “I haven’t had the best record here but it’s a course I like and I feel I should play well here.
“It was a solid day, I drove it well, hit a lot of greens. I wasn’t too sharp with the irons but putted pretty well.
“Justin Thomas has been pretty close to me for a while. Every week I know someone can pass me in the rankings. Defending champion Si Woo Kim is among a clutch of players one behind him on five under, with European No.1 Tommy Fleetwood three under and last year’s runner-up Ian Poulter a shot further back.
Rory McIlroy carded a 71 that included four birdies and three bogeys.
Rose was frustrated not to make more of a brilliant beginning to his round.
The English star said: “It was a dream start – birdie, eagle and three under through three – but I didn’t make much of it from that moment on.
“Three bogeys is probably what halted a great round but it’s still not easy out there to keep a clean sheet. The wind moving around for the first three hours.”
England’s Ryan Evans overcame strong winds and a nightmare journey to claim a share of the lead at the Sicilian Open with a six-under 65.
The world No.284 is tied in top spot with Denmark’s Lucas Bjerregaard.
Evans said: “My flight was delayed from Heathrow on Tuesday so I didn’t get in until 10pm. I played a late practice round on Wednesday and didn’t make it the whole way round. It feels great to put a low one in for the first round.”