Dustin downer.

Fitzpatrick off to an impressive start – but Spieth struggles in wind

World no 1 Dustin Johnson is surrounded by the media after announcing his withdrawal from the Masters yesterday after injuring his back in a fall. He pulled out just moments before he was due to start his first round.

Matt Fitzpatrick had his sights set on becoming Sheffield’s second consecutive Masters champion after outscoring playing partner Jordan Spieth on a highly eventful opening day of the 81st Masters yesterday.

After world No 1 Dustin Johnson was forced out by a back injury just moments before he was due to tee off, Fitzpatrick carded an opening 71 at a windswept Augusta National.

That was four shots better than 2015 champion Spieth, who followed his costly quadruple bogey on the 12th in last year’s final round with another on the par-five 15th.

But it could have been even better for the 22-year-old three-time European Tour winner, who had been three under par before a wayward tee shot led to a double-bogey six on the 18th.

Fitzpatrick had to settle for joining compatriot Andy Sullivan, Kevin Chappell and Russell Henley on one under par, Henley having claimed the last place in the year’s first major by winning the Shell Houston Open on Sunday.

With winds gusting up to 35mph moving balls on greens and causing havoc around Amen Corner in particular, defending champion Danny Willett and Rory McIlroy were among the players trying to battle back from poor starts.

Willett, who has struggled for consistent form since claiming his first major title 12 months ago, hit a wild opening drive into the trees to the right of the first fairway and needed two shots to escape.

The 29-year-old found the green with his fourth shot and two-putted for a six, making him the first defending champion to start with a double bogey since hole-by-hole records began being collected in 1983.

A similarly wayward drive on the par-five second, which played the easiest hole on the course in 2016, cost Willett another shot and, although he birdied the third and 10th, a bogey on the 11th left him two over par.

McIlroy, who had acknowledged the need to make a good start in pursuit of the victory he needs to complete the career grand slam, was a shot worse off after dropping shots on the first, third and eighth.

The world No 2’s Ryder Cup partner Thomas Pieters had threatened to set a daunting target when he raced to the turn in 32 and also birdied the 10th to reach five under par.

However, Pieters, who won a record four points from his five matches in Europe’s defeat at Hazeltine, then bogeyed the 11th and double-bogeyed the 12th after finding water off the tee.

The 25-year-old Belgian then followed a bogey on the 15th with a birdie on the 16th, but double-bogeyed the last and had to settle for a 72.

Spieth parred the final two holes to complete an opening 75.

American William McGirt, who won the Memorial Tournament last year to secure his Masters debut, became the first player to break 70 with four birdies and a solitary bogey in a superb 69.

McIlroy was still searching for a first birdie of the day and had to scramble for par on the 12th to remain three over, but Willett was just three shots off the lead after an eagle from 11 feet on the 13th got the 29-year-old back to level par.

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