Dustin shows why he’s No 1

Ponte Vedra Beach – Dustin Johnson (above) got off to a strong start but still has work to do to hang on to his world No 1 ranking as six players shared the lead at the Players Championship on Thursday.

Johnson headlined the leading pack on six-under-par 66 – his lowest opening round PGA Tour score in 13 months.

Joining Johnson atop the leaderboard at TPC Sawgrass, were fellow US Open winner Webb Simpson, Chesson Hadley, Matt Kuchar, Patrick Cantlay and inform Swede Alex Noren.

Johnson, who has been world No 1 for 64 weeks, is under siege by those ranked from second to fifth, and he answered the challenge with a bogey-free round.

Kuchar, fuelled by a birdie-eagle-birdie run at the 10th, 11th and 12th, moved to seven-under with birdies at 15 and 16, but had a bogey at the last.

Six players, including defending champion Kim Si-woo of South Korea, were a stroke back on 67.

Kim, the youngest winner of the Players, matched the lowest opening round by a defending champion established by Jack Nicklaus in 1977.

Former Players and Masters champion Sergio Garcia was seven-under with two holes to play, thanks in part to a run of five straight birdies.

Garcia then hit the woodwork guarding the island green at the par-three 17th, his ball disappearing into the water.

Tiger Woods’ return included a 20-foot eagle at the par-five ninth. But he found the water off the tee at the last en-route to a closing bogey and a level-par 72. –