Johnson, who has won on his last two starts, has been placed in a group with US PGA Championship title holder Jimmy Walker, twice major winner Martin Kaymer and former US Open champion Webb Simpson.
They represent one of 16 four-player groups that will play round-robin matches from Wednesday through Friday at the Austin Country Club with the winners of each group advancing to a single-elimination bracket at the weekend.
"I've got a lot of confidence in the game," Johnson. "I feel like I'm controlling my ball very well and I feel I’m starting to drive a little straighter."
Defending champion Jason Day and Marc Leishman, fresh off a victory at Bay Hill, are the two Australians in the event and they have been grouped with England's Lee Westwood and American Pat Perez.
The winner of their group will face one of Phil Mickelson, J.B. Holmes, Daniel Berger or South Korean Kim Si-woo.
"When it comes time to play match play you've just got to go out and try and beat them," said world No 3 Day. "You're not really friends for 18 holes and then when you get off the course you're back to being mates."
