It’s Johnson & Johnson fortnight on the US PGA Tour. Just one week after rookie Dustin Johnson wins his maiden title at Turning Stone, his more illustrious namesake Zach Johnson goes out and wins his first tournament of the year.
The 2007 Masters champion had been struggling all season, posting just one top 10 finish. However, he made up for all the disappointments over the past 10 months with a two-stroke victory over Korean Charlie Wi, Mark Wilson and Tim Wilkinson at the Texas Open.
Johnson carded a six-under-par 64 in the final round in San Antonio to follow up his third-round of 62 for a four-round total of 19-under 261.
Wi surged up the leaderboard by closing with a nine-under 61 for his 263 with Wilson (63) and Wilkinson (64). Jeff Overton was alone at number five on 265 after his 65.
For Johnson, it was his putting that salvaged what would have turned out to be a bare season. He said in an AP story:
“I’ve been working on my putting over the last six weeks with my teachers, and it really paid off this week. I had a tough year, but the putts started to fall in today, and that’s why I’m at the top of the leaderboard.â€
In Spain, South African Charl Schwartzel won his third European Tour title with victory at the Madrid Masters. It was his second triumph in Spain, having own the Open de Espana last year.
He follows compatriots Retief Goosen (2001) and Richard Sterne (2004) as South African winners of this event.
The 24-year-old scored successive five-under-par 66s during the weekend to secure a three-stroke victory over Argentina’s Ricardo Gonzalez.
Battling illness and pains in his shoulder and back, Schwartzel compiled a winning total of 19-under 265 at the Club de Campo.
Youngster Pablo Larrazabal shot a 67 to finish third at 15-under with another Spaniard Alvaro Quiros (64) and Englishman Robert Rock (64) a further shot back.
Schwartzel, who led since the end of the second round, nailed two birdies without dropping a shot in the final round to ease to victory.
On the LPGA Tour, 20-year-old South Korean Kim In-kyung carded a one-over-par 73 in the final round to secure a three-shot victory at the Longs Drugs Challenge in Danville, California.
Kim totalled 10-under-par 278 at Blackhawk Country Club to beat American Angela Stanford, who settled for 75 on the last day for 281.
Taiwan’s Tseng Yani was third on 282 after a 72 while Mexican world number one Lorena Ochoa also shot 72 to finish fourth on 284.
It’s good to see Zack back in the winners circle. He’s a good guy, and one of my favorites to watch.