Fitness boost for Dustin Johnson as tough conditions trouble early starters

Dustin Johnson's prospects of competing in the 81st Masters received a boost as the early starters battled tough conditions.

Johnson suffered a back injury in a "serious fall" in his rented accommodation on Wednesday afternoon after the cancellation of the traditional par-three contest due to bad weather.

That put the world number one's bid for a remarkable fourth straight victory in jeopardy, but there was encouraging news for the US Open champion on Thursday.

Our @ToddLewisGC reports @DJohnsonPGA will arrive to Augusta National in about an hour to practice and is 'cautiously optimistic.' pic.twitter.com/yNVdGwJyCb

— Golf Channel (@GolfChannel) April 6, 2017

"We got him to the point where he got mobility," Johnson's trainer Joey Diovisalvi told Golf World. "He was up and moving around and definitely going in the right direction. He was very much in an under-control point going to bed last night.

"He was walking around, a lot more mobility, took a couple of practice swings slowly without a club."

Johnson, who missed the 2012 Masters after reportedly injuring his back when lifting a jet-ski, at least had the advantage of being in the final group out at 2:03pm local time.

Tournament officials said that 1.4 inches of rain had fallen on Wednesday, but without damaging the course, with a stiff breeze helping to dry it out.

The 2017 Tournament has begun. Here are the pin positions for the first round of #themasters. pic.twitter.com/hMthaHan4O

— The Masters (@TheMasters) April 6, 2017

The wind was making scoring difficult, however, with Amateur champion Scott Gregory joining Brian Stuard in running up a triple-bogey seven on the first.

Gregory's playing partner Sandy Lyle, the 1988 champion, was faring considerably better and followed pars on the first and second by chipping in for a birdie on the third.

That took the 59-year-old to just a shot off the early pace now being set by American Scott Piercy, who had recovered from a bogey on the first with birdies on the second, fourth and seventh.

Scotland's Russell Knox, England's Andy Sullivan and Ryder Cup team-mate Thomas Pieters were also one under after birdies on the par-five second, which played as the easiest hole on the course in 2016.