Johnson has a high-ranking fan

Iowa governor watches Iowan

Zach Johnson got another surprise at the Masters.

This one wasn't quite as good as last year's; nothing tops getting your very own green jacket. But it's a good bet no other player had the governor of his home state in the gallery, as the defending champion did Thursday when Iowa's Chet Culver showed up at Augusta National.

"I did not know he was going to be here," Johnson said after shooting a 2-under 70 in the first round that left him tied for sixth. "To see his face, I was a little bit surprised. But looking back on it now, being from Iowa and knowing the people and knowing what it's all about, certainly meeting Gov. Culver and his family, the support is second to none.

"Granted, that's where I'm from, so I'm a little biased."

The self-proclaimed "normal guy" from Iowa surprised just about everybody when he held off Tiger Woods to win the Masters last year. His victory was considered by many to be little more than a fluke of the weather. The blustery cold prevented others from going low and allowed him to play it safe -- he didn't go for a single par-5 all week -- and his 1-over 289 tied for highest winning scorer in Masters history.

Yet here Johnson is again near the top of the leaderboard.

"Anybody that tees it up this week, for the most part, they are playing here for a reason. One, they have either won here, or two, they can win here," he said. "There's not a surprise guy on the leaderboard or a surprise guy in the field, as far as I'm concerned."

CUTTING IT CLOSE: Fred Couples needs to pick it up. He's got a streak to preserve.

The former champion has never missed the weekend at the Masters, sharing the record for consecutive cuts made (23) with Gary Player. But his 4-over 76 has him in a tie for 65th. The top 44 and ties -- plus those within 10 strokes of the leader -- make the cut.

"I misclubbed a lot of shots, and they were hard shots. I didn't hit very good ones and I didn't make many putts, so when you do that, it kind of adds up to 76, which is very mediocre," Couples said.

OBERHOLSER OUT: With a 1-under 71, it would seem Arron Oberholser's array of injuries are behind him. Not even close.

Oberholser said he will take at least two months off after the Masters and has received a medical exemption for next season.

"I can't be out there hitting balls or doing anything," he said. "If I take two months completely off and then don't hit a ball and try to come back in the middle of the summer, it's going to take me a month to get my game back to where I want it to be, anyway."

For months, Oberholser has been feeling a pull on the nerve in his right shoulder when he swings. Sometimes, the pain shoots all the way down to his elbow. His left hand doesn't feel right, either, after surgery in October to correct a recurring injury.

PETTERSSON LOOKS TO JUMP-START SEASON: Former N.C. State golfer Carl Pettersson hopes that missing the Masters will jump-start his season.

For the first time since 2005, Pettersson failed to qualify for the season's first major. He said Thursday in Wake Forest that missing the field could be the kick in the backside he needs to get going.

He has twice been in the field at Augusta National, finishing tied for 27th at 4 over in 2006 and last year tied for 52nd at 19 over.

But as the Masters started Thursday, Pettersson was back near his adopted hometown of Raleigh to promote his charity pro-am golf tournament.

Later this month, he will join former N.C. State teammate Tim Clark for the Children's Flight of Hope event to raise money to transport children in need of medical care to hospitals.