Sunday, April 08, 2007

Zach Johnson Wins The Masters


It's always enjoyable to see some new faces break through on golf's biggest stage, and today the mostly unknown Zach Johnson held off Tiger Woods, among others, to claim the Green Jacket.
AUGUSTA, Ga. -- A strange week at the Masters saved the biggest surprises for the end Sunday -- a green jacket for unheralded Zach Johnson, and beating Tiger Woods at that.

Johnson pulled away from Woods and the rest of the pack with three birdies in a crucial four-hole stretch along the back nine of Augusta National, closing with a 69 for a two-shot victory and only the second of his career.

Johnson, 31, is the least accomplished Masters champion since Larry Mize chipped in to beat Greg Norman in a playoff 20 years ago, but this was no fluke. Even as some of the thrills returned in the final round, Johnson kept his calm.

And there wasn't anything Woods could do about it.

Woods looked like a lock when he took the lead after a short birdie on the second hole, only this major didn't work out like so many others. Johnson and three other players came after him, and Woods was the one who backed off with sloppy mistakes -- a broken club and shots that either found the water or the bunker, too many putts that stayed out of the cup.

It was the third time Woods lost a lead during the final round of a major, and the first time he failed to get it back.

Johnson finished at 1-over 289, matching a Masters record last set in 1956 for highest winning score. And it ended a streak of the winner coming out of the final group at Augusta National ever year since 1991.
After Johnson bogeyed 17, Justin Rose climbed to within a shot on the 16th hole, but Rose unraveled with a double bogey on 17 to fall out of contention. Woods was just not his usual self today and seemed very frustrated with his play.

I had to occasion to meet Johnson and his wife, Kim, while I was working at the 2005 PGA Championship, and they're a very unassuming Midwestern couple. Since that time I had followed Johnson's progress, and today he's broken through into golf's upper echelon. His professional life has completely changed, but it's safe to say this fine young man will not be affected by stardom. Congratulations to Zach Johnson and all his family and friends.

(Getty Images photo)

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