Fans back for Houston Open this week

With just over a week to go until the strange spectacle of an autumn US Masters, world number one Dustin Johnson will be glad to finally get back on course this week at the Houston Open.

Johnson makes his first appearance since finishing tied sixth in the US Open in September, having been forced to miss his planned Augusta warm-ups at the CJ Cup and Zozo Championship after testing positive for Covid-19.

A limited amount of spectators will be allowed this week for the first time on American soil since the US PGA Tour resumed in June.

It remains to be seen if Johnson can instantly recapture the remarkable run of form he showed before succumbing to the coronavirus. Prior to the US Open he had enjoyed four consecutive top-two finishes in three FedEx Cup playoff events and a major.

Johnson won the Northern Trust and the season-ending Tour Championship and was runner-up in the US PGA Championship and BMW Championship.

Johnson hasn't finished outside the top 10 in his last four Masters, with a best of tied second behind Tiger Woods last year, and if he successfully shakes off the rust this week could put himself in great shape for a crack at a maiden green jacket.

Amongst the field that will be heading to Augusta next week none of the top five players in the world have won the coveted green jacket.

Johnson remains top of the World Golf Rankings ahead of Spaniard Jon Rahm with Justin Thomas in third. PGA Championship winner Colin Morikawa is the fourth ranked player in the world ahead of Rory McIlroy in fifth.

The Masters is the only major that McIlroy is missing before he has completed the career grand slam and given his consistency recently it would be difficult to write him off.

The latest is that Englishman Ian Poulter has withdrawn from the Houston Open due to a back injury but he's confident to be fit to play in the Masters next week.