Augusta (United States) (AFP)

Five months after his coronation under the autumn leaves, the world No.1 Dustin Johnson on Thursday puts his green jacket back into play in Augusta, where the Masters will return to relative normality for its 85th edition, under spring blooms, in the presence of a small audience.

The organizers did not say how many spectators are expected, but the American media put forward the number of about 12,000 per day, certainly far from the 40,000 to 50,000 usually.

Under these conditions, can Johnson achieve a "back-to-back" as only Jack Nicklaus (1965-66), Nick Faldo (1990-91) and Tiger Woods (2001-02) have done?

Certainly, so much the boss of the circuit dominated the year 2020 with three other titles, including the Tour Championship.

"When I play my best golf, I feel like I can beat any opponent," said the man who also won Saudi International in February this week, assuring "not to feel wronged" that he only kept his green jacket for five months instead of a year.

"It would not have bothered me even if I had only had one day. I am even more confident", assured "DJ".

It must be said that last November, on a course softened by the rain, he had flown over the debates, making a final record card of -20.

This time, Johnson expects "a normal Masters, on a fairly firm and fast course, immaculate, impeccable".

- Pack of hunters -

If Tiger Woods, five-time winner of the event, will obviously be the big absentee, a month and a half after his serious car accident, a pack of hunters stands behind the favorite.

Starting with Bryson DeChambeau, whose punching power allowed him to win the US Open last year.

In the process, a confirmation was expected in Augusta, but "the stress, the spotlight and everything else got the better of me," he conceded.

"The rest" resulting in dizziness and stomach upset.

The world No.5 who had been on an over-protein diet during confinement and had gained 20 kg, has lost five since.

"And I'm hitting a lot further than in November. So there are some different places I'm going to be aiming on the course."

Another contender, Justin Thomas, winner of the 2017 PGA Championship, whose start to the year is on a roller coaster, with the controversy of a homophobic insult pronounced in January which resulted in him losing one of his big sponsors and the death of one of his grandfather then.

"It weighed a lot on me mentally. I had to overcome," said the world No.2, 4th in the Masters in November and who has been on a different dynamic since his victory in mid-March at the Players championship, considered the 5th Major.

- Ambitious Europeans -

The timing could also be good for Jordan Spieth, who won Sunday the 11th title of his career at the Texas Open, his first since the British Open 2017. At 27, the former American prodigy, also winner of the Masters and the US Open in 2015, seems to come out of his desert crossing at the best time.

For Brooks Koepka, quadruple winner in the Grand Slams (US Open 2017 and 2018, USPGA 2018 and 2019) and second in the Masters in 2019 behind Tiger Woods, participating is already a victory, because he comes out of a right knee operation suffered on the 16th. March.

"I feel like I can win, he warned nonetheless. From there, it's a question of holding the four days. But I did not come here to finish second."

There remain the ambitious Europeans, led by the Northern Irishman Rory McIlroy in search of the only Major missing from his collection, the Spaniard Jon Rahm (world No. 3), very present despite the birth of his son on Sunday, and finally Victor Perez, who surprised the field two weekends ago by finishing in the last four of the World Match-Play Championship in Austin.

The only French representative, Tarbais, 29th player in the world, confided "having really gained confidence" with this result and 18th place just before the Players Championship, and "wanting to continue surfing this wave".

© 2021 AFP