Johnson excited for the Masters after injury frustration

Having been forced to withdraw from last year's Masters, Dustin Johnson is hoping to contend for a first green jacket this time around.

Dustin Johnson is raring to go at August after missing last year's Masters due to an untimely injury.

Johnson was tipped for success in the first major of 2017, having already collected three wins in the season and being sat at the top of the rankings, but a back problem sustained in his rental home forced him to withdraw.

Still world number one, the 33-year-old has put that episode behind him and is keen to earn his first green jacket this week.

"Coming into last year obviously I was playing very well and it was very disappointing not to be able to play, but it was a year ago, so a lot of things have happened since then," Johnson said during his media conference.

"This year is a completely different year, and I'm really looking forward to coming into this year, especially missing last year.

"I'm always excited to come back here and play. I feel like the game is in really good shape and got a lot of confidence coming into here this week."

Johnson struggled in his first five trips to Augusta, a share of 13th his best return, but successive top-10 finishes point to a possible breakthrough on the horizon.

"The more you play here, the more comfortable you get around this golf course. You know what tee shots and where to hit it and the flags and kind of how to attack the golf course. So that plays a part in it," Johnson said. 

"Then I think just me as a golfer getting better and having more confidence, hitting it better, driving it better, doing everything a little bit better always helps around here.

"I know what it takes to get it done in a major, and it's never easy. I've been in this situation quite a few times where I've had a chance to win, and no matter what you do or how you prepare, it's not easy to win."

With a mix of veterans and young players rising to the top of the world rankings in the field, Johnson does not see one standout contender for glory.

"It's tough to pick a favourite," Johnson said. "I mean, if you look at through the field, there's a lot of guys that are playing well.

"It's tough to know who is going to play the best this week. I think come Sunday it's going to be a pretty tight race between four or five guys like it is every year."