Five things to know at the 81st Masters during the first round on Thursday at Augusta National Golf Club:
1. As of 3 p.m., Thomas Pieters, Justin Rose, Will McGirt and Matthew Fitzpatrick were tied for the lead at 2-under par. While the wind was blowing 20-30 mph and some gusts higher after noontime, the scores were high but not unreasonable as hole locations were in accessible positions.
2. World No. 1 Dustin Johnson withdrew just before his scheduled 2:03 p.m. tee time. He warmed up, could be heard saying he would attempt to play, but then didn’t show up at the first tee at the last minute. He gave a quick interview to a media group of reporters and photographers under the clubhouse tree and explained how disappointed he was that the fall he took at his Augusta rental home would keep him from competing. He had won three PGA Tour starts in a row.
3. Former University of Georgia golfer Russell Henley, who qualified Sunday to be in the Masters by winning the Shell Houston Open, shot a 1-under 71 and remained among the top 15 as the afternoon wave of golfers got well into their rounds.
4. As of 3 p.m., there were already 12 scores at 76 or higher with amateur Scott Gregory posting an 82 for the worst score so far. Former champions Mike Weir (76), Sandy Lyle (77) and Zach Johnson (77) were among those 12.
5. Larry Mize, the former Georgia Tech star who won the 1987 Masters 30 years ago in one of the great moments in Masters history, and now competes on the Champions Tour, posted a 74 that was remarkable given the circumstances.
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