Decade after Masters win, Johnson still major threat
On the morning of Easter Sunday in 2007, Zach Johnson, a regular at the PGA Tour’s Bible study groups, didn’t have much faith in his chances to win the Masters.
“A lot of people ask me, ‘What were you thinking that Sunday?’ ” Johnson said 10 years later. “‘Well, if I play good, I might have a good finish. Tiger’s in the final group. … I have no chance.’ Realistically, that’s what I was thinking.”
But, with a brilliant closing 69, Johnson won his first major at 1over-par 289, staving off Woods, Retief Goosen and Rory Sabbatini by two shots.
It was a week of bitter cold and high winds, with perseverance, grit and resolve the buzzwords during all four rounds. It was the last time — and the third time in 80 Masters — that a player was victorious with an over-par total. The win was the second of 12 PGA Tour titles for Johnson, whose last victory also came on hallowed ground — the Old Course at St Andrews, where he captured the 2015 British Open.
“I remember Sunday I felt like I was walking in the park and the golf ball got in the way,” Johnson said Sunday after giving out trophies at the Drive, Chip & Putt National Finals. “Anytime you are in a tournament that Tiger is playing, somehow if your name is above his on Sunday, it is special. That’s something I can tell my grandkids.”
Johnson said that as a kid he dreamed of making 4-, 5-, 6-footers to win the Masters. His winning putt came from less than a foot on the 72nd hole.
“I didn’t think my dreams would ever come to this,” Johnson said.
He is 41 and capable of adding to his win total. He said his game has matured, and he thinks he’s a better player than he was in 2007.
“There are a lot of things where it’s hard to fathom that it’s been 10 years. Then I look at my kids and go, ‘Oh, yeah, it’s been 10 years,’ ” Johnson said. “But I come back here, and I feel like (2007) was yesterday.
“There are so many (memorable moments). I remember warming up on the (old) members range, and the short game area was there to the right. I remember everything.”
What many others remember is Johnson didn’t go for the green in two on any par-5. Still, Johnson was 11 under on the par-5s; Woods was 9 under.
“My putting was terrific, and I still had six three-putts, which is a bit excessive,” he said. “But it was also really windy. I three-putted 17 from 4 feet because I got a gust.”
Johnson’s thoughts are on winning a second green jacket. He’s not among the favorites — that area is reserved for Dustin Johnson, Jordan Spieth, Rory McIlroy and Jason Day — but it wouldn’t be a shock if Johnson won.
“It comes down to execution,” he said. “Committing on shots, sticking to my go-to shot, and I have to hit certain shots that I’m not as comfortable making. I’m driving it great. Clearly it comes down to putting and making putts. And I think I can do that.”