Zach Johnson’s short game skills were on full display as he fired a bogey-free seven-under-par 66 to grab a one-stroke victory at the $5.7 million Hyundai Tournament of Champions last night.
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 Jordan Spieth (69) birdied the last to finish outright second on 18 under, with 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 said.
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.
Zach Johnson then continued his good work with a series of precise approach shots on the back nine.
“I didn’t deviate away from anything I typically do on the golf course,” he said.
“I just picked it apart. It’s fairways and greens for me, trying to stay below the hole, give myself an aggressive look, trusting in what I’m doing.”
He made seven birdies, but it was a par save at the par-four 13th that perhaps was the turning point.
After hitting his first putt far too hard, he sank an eight-footer to remain tied for the lead before holing a similar-length putt at the next to go ahead for good.
Comfortable under pressure, he briefly sat to admire the panoramic view of the island of nearby Molokai after his tee shot at 17 before recording two pars to seal a second straight victory.
Johnson ended last year by beating Woods in a play-off at the world number one’s World Challenge in California.
