Still a risk Dustin Johnson’s mind will wander

‘Great’ is a word too often used in today’s world to describe the most trivial things, but Augusta National, the annual home of the year’s first major championship, has lived up to Robert Tyre (Bobby) Jones Jnr and Cliff Roberts’ original ambitions for the course.

It must be remembered that 87 years ago, the clearing of trees and the shaping of a golf course were not an exact science but in Augusta course, architect Alastair McKenzie and Jones have produced a jewel of stunning simplicity — a course that flows with the natural terrain of the ground while offering chances aplenty to those who are skilful enough to execute precision.

Augusta can lure the untrained eye into a false sense of comfort with its wide fairways and immaculate putting surfaces, but on further examination the real test comes from being able to strategically position your ball into the correct areas of the fairway so you can attack pin positions stubbornly defended by heavy contours, run-offs and water.