Dustin Johnson has withdrawn from the Masters after injuring his lower back in a fall at the home he was renting for the week. The world's No. 1-ranked player arrived at Augusta National on quite a roll, having won his last three starts.
But he never took a shot at the first major championship of the year.
Johnson walked to the first hole Thursday, as if he was going to play in the final group of the day, but changed his mind at the last possible moment. Bubba Watson and Jimmy Walker teed off while Johnson sauntered back to the clubhouse, a stunning start to the tournament.
His Masters was over before it ever began.
Johnson was injured late Wednesday afternoon when he took what his agent described as a "serious" fall down a staircase.
The reigning US Open champion had been a heavy favorite here after winning his three prior starts.
England's Justin Rose, Andy Sullivan and Matthew Fitzpatrick grabbed a share of the early first-round lead after Belgium's Thomas Pieters found watery disaster in Amen Corner.
American Kevin Chappell joined the English trio and Masters debutante Pieters on 2-under atop the leaderboard in cool and windy conditions at Augusta National in the year's first major championship.
Pieters made five birdies without a bogey in the first 10 holes to seize a three-shot lead but opened Amen Corner with a bogey at the par-4 11th and then plunked a shot into Rae's Creek on his way to a double bogey at the par-3 12th.
That's the same hole where a double splashdown into Rae's Creek by Jordan Spieth led to his 2016 quadruple bogey disaster that cost him the final round lead.
Seven others were on 1-under, including five-time major champion Phil Mickelson. The 46-year-old American would become the oldest winner in Masters history by capturing his fourth green jacket.
Nicklaus, Player bid emotional Masters farewell to Palmer
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Golf legends Jack Nicklaus and Gary Player said a tearful goodbye to the late Arnold Palmer Thursday as they hit ceremonial tee shots to begin the Masters.
Palmer, an iconic player who pioneered athlete endorsements and televised golf, died last September at age 87. That left Nicklaus and Player to continue the first-tee tradition with him absent for the first time.
Nicklaus grabbed his cap, raised his right arm and looked skyward to remember his absent friend.
"The Masters made Arnold in many ways because of his wins in '58, '60, '62, and '64, but I think Arnold made the Masters," Nicklaus said.
"Arnold put the Masters on the map and with his rise and his popularity, the Masters rose the same. They were both very good for each other and very synonymous with each other."
Augusta National chairman Billy Payne escorted Palmer's widow, Kit, to the first tee and they placed Palmer's green jacket over the back of his empty chair in the tee box. Palmer had been reduced to only a seated spectator role last year due to poor health.
"The ceremony was very nice. Brought Kit out and Arnold's jacket. It was done very nicely and in good taste," Nicklaus said.
"Extremely eloquent, very touching," added Player, who recalled Palmer struggling to rise from his chair last year as crowds cheered his name.
"Arnold could hardly walk to the first tee and he stood up because he had been taught to stand up. And he gave a little wave and that was very touching to me," Player said.
"And I could see him doing it in that chair today."
All spectators Thursday received a rare Masters custom-made souvenir "Arnie's Army" button. Nicklaus and Player wore them too.
"He would have dropped over if he had seen one on Gary and me," Nicklaus said with a laugh. "It was very nice."
Nicklaus and Player also shared memories of Palmer at Tuesday's Champions Dinner and again after the ceremony. — Agencies
