WEB EXCLUSIVE: Drake alum Zach Johnson wins Masters

Times-Delphic staff

Issue date: 4/5/07 Section: News

Media Credit: courtesy of Brad Buffoni

Zach Johnson won the Masters on Sunday.

Zach Johnson (B'98) rallied for six birdies during the final round of the Masters to claim a green jacket and his second win on the PGA Tour on Sunday in Augusta, Ga.

Johnson carded a 3-under 69 to finish the weekend at Augusta National Golf Club 1 over with a 289. Rory Sabbatini, Tiger Woods and Retief Goosen tied for second at the Masters with scores of 291.

The former Drake golfer wrapped up his victory with a birdie on No. 16 to give him a three-stroke lead. In his previous three rounds, he bogey the par-3 hole.

"You know, when I 3-putted on Friday, I felt like I had good reads," Johnson said during his post-round press conference released by Augusta International. "I hit good putts; I'll be honest with you, I felt like the wind took my ball. I barely had a back stroke on that first putt, and the second putt I felt like I hit a spike mark.
You know, I wasn't getting down. I still felt comfortable in my putter and confident in what I was doing."

This was Johnson's third try at Augusta National Golf Club in Augusta, Ga. He first played in 2005, qualifying by winning the 2004 BellSouth Classic and earning a top-40 spot on the PGA Tour money list.

Although Johnson wasn't the top golfer at Drake, he decided to pursue a career in golf instead of marketing.

"You know, I really didn't want to go back to school," Johnson said. "You know, I really didn't want to get a job. The one thing that I kind of clinged to was the fact that every year, as a junior, in high school, and then in college, I improved and I felt like, you know, if I can get the necessary finances down, I'm going to give this a shot for two or three years and see where things go. And if I keep improving, then we'll see how far it takes me. So I worked hard."

A group of investors from Cedar Rapids bought stock in him so he could try a career as a professional golfer. He joined the Prairie Golf Tour in 1998 and ended the season sixth on the tour's money list.

Johnson also made stops on the Hooters Tour and the Nationwide Tour before joining the PGA in 2004.

Johnson is the second big name out of his high school, Cedar Rapids Regis (now called Xavier). Former Super Bowl MVP Kurt Warner also attended Regis. Johnson was asked, "What's with that place?" by a member of the media.

"I don't know," Johnson answered. "It's home. That's where I started and, whew - told myself I wouldn't get emotional.
You know, my mom is there now, so I just -I thank everybody back in Cedar Rapids."

Johnson is the second Iowan to win a major on the PGA Tour. Davenport golfer Jack Fleck beat Ben Hogan in 1955 for the U.S. Open.