Zach Johnson’s short game skills were on full display as the American fired a bogey-free seven-under-par 66 to grab a one-stroke victory at the $5.7 million Hyundai Tournament of Champions on Monday.
Zach Johnson celebrates after winning the Tournament of Champions. Net photo.
Johnson, who started the final round two shots off the pace, took the sole lead with a short birdie putt on the 14th hole and also birdied the next two holes to pull away at the Kapalua Plantation course.
The 2007 Masters champion finished at 19-under 273, while fellow American Jordan Spieth (69) birdied the last to finish outright second on 18-under, with compatriots Kevin Streelman (67) and Webb Simpson (70) another shot back in tied third.
Johnson, 37, collected $1.14 million for his 11th PGA Tour victory but was subdued afterwards, his focus on Simpson’s regular caddie Paul Tesori whose newborn son is in intensive care in a Florida hospital.
“That’s where my heart was today and that’s where my mind was a lot of the day,” Johnson told The Golf Channel.
The world number nine is renowned for his wedge game, which he demonstrated by chipping in from 45 feet at the par-three second as joint overnight leader and defending champion Dustin Johnson (73) fell away with three early bogeys.
Johnson ended last year by beating Woods in a playoff at the world number one’s World Challenge in California.
Since his first victory nearly a decade ago, only Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson and Vijay Singh have won more often than Johnson on tour.
Agencies