Off we go: Ryo Ishikawa watches his tee shot on the 11th hole at the Colonial on Thursday in Fort Worth, Texas. KYODOJohnson opened his round with a 40-foot birdie putt on his first hole, No. 10. After blasting from a greenside bunker at No. 12 to save par, he had four birdies in a row on a day when gusty wind whipped through the big oaks lining the fairways at Hogan's Alley.Even though he has made the cut in all 12 tournaments he has played this season, Johnson hasn't won since the Colonial two years ago.Jason Dufner was a stroke back along with U.S. PGA Tour rookie Harris English, Tom Gillis and Kyle Reifers."Today was great. I got off to a good start, just hit some quality shots. I didn't put myself ever in a position that was too worrisome," Johnson said. "I kept the golf course in front me. I attacked when I could attack. I had a couple of nice saves when I needed it. ... I've got zero complaints."Dufner won the Byron Nelson Championship last week, and both of his PGA Tour victories have come in the last four weeks. He started at Colonial with three consecutive birdies, was 5 under after a 10-foot birdie putt at the 174-yard eighth hole, then overcame two bogeys in a three-hole stretch.Johnson opened with the big birdie putt at the 396-yard 10th hole on way to his 13th consecutive under-par round at Hogan's Alley. He set the Colonial tournament scoring record with his 21-under 259 in 2010, when he had a pair of 64s in his last PGA Tour victory.After hitting into a greenside bunker at the 435-yard 12th, he blasted to 9 feet to save par."The big putt that got me going," he said. He then had four consecutive birdies, a span that included two par 3s and all the putts between 14-21 feet.Sergio Garcia, the 2001 Colonial champ in the same group as Johnson, shot a 66 to match Chris DiMarco, Tommy Gainey and Andres Romero.The 22-year-old English had never played a full round at Colonial until Thursday. That came three days after he shot rounds of 60 and 63 during a British Open qualifier at Gleneagles. That is a much more wide-open layout about an hour from Colonial."Three bogey-free rounds I have had in a row, which I've never done," English said. "I'm playing solid golf and not really getting out of position. I'm getting my putter going. I'm hitting it to 15 or 20 feet a lot and seemed to be making a good many of those. It's just been good."English, a winner last year on the Nationwide Tour as an amateur, has made 11 of 14 cuts in his first season on the PGA Tour.Garcia had an eagle-3 at the 558-yard No. 1, getting him to 5 under through 10 holes. His only bogey came after hitting his tee shot at the dogleg-left third hole into a greenside bunker, and he saved par out of bunkers his last two holes. He hasn't won on the PGA Tour in four years.Defending champion David Toms, in the group with Johnson and Garcia, had only one birdie in an opening 74. Last year, the 45-year-old Toms started with consecutive rounds of 62 to match the PGA Tour scoring record for the first 36 holes of a tournament.Dufner's approach at No. 9 was just off the back fringe, and he chipped to 6 feet before his par putt circled the cup without falling. A 25-foot birdie attempt at No. 10 rolled over the right edge of the cup, then he bogeyed the 635-yard 11th hole when his third shot went in a greenside bunker and he then two-putted from 9 feet.Dufner was playing with Matt Kuchar, who two weeks ago won The Players Championship, and Rickie Fowler, The Players runner-up who the week before that got his first PGA Tour victory at Quail Hollow.
Showing posts with label Johnson. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Johnson. Show all posts
Saturday, May 26, 2012
Johnson out to early lead
Fort Worth, Texas — Zach Johnson shot a bogey-free 6-under 64 to take a one-stroke lead after the first round of the Colonial on Thursday.Off we go: Ryo Ishikawa watches his tee shot on the 11th hole at the Colonial on Thursday in Fort Worth, Texas. KYODOJohnson opened his round with a 40-foot birdie putt on his first hole, No. 10. After blasting from a greenside bunker at No. 12 to save par, he had four birdies in a row on a day when gusty wind whipped through the big oaks lining the fairways at Hogan's Alley.Even though he has made the cut in all 12 tournaments he has played this season, Johnson hasn't won since the Colonial two years ago.Jason Dufner was a stroke back along with U.S. PGA Tour rookie Harris English, Tom Gillis and Kyle Reifers."Today was great. I got off to a good start, just hit some quality shots. I didn't put myself ever in a position that was too worrisome," Johnson said. "I kept the golf course in front me. I attacked when I could attack. I had a couple of nice saves when I needed it. ... I've got zero complaints."Dufner won the Byron Nelson Championship last week, and both of his PGA Tour victories have come in the last four weeks. He started at Colonial with three consecutive birdies, was 5 under after a 10-foot birdie putt at the 174-yard eighth hole, then overcame two bogeys in a three-hole stretch.Johnson opened with the big birdie putt at the 396-yard 10th hole on way to his 13th consecutive under-par round at Hogan's Alley. He set the Colonial tournament scoring record with his 21-under 259 in 2010, when he had a pair of 64s in his last PGA Tour victory.After hitting into a greenside bunker at the 435-yard 12th, he blasted to 9 feet to save par."The big putt that got me going," he said. He then had four consecutive birdies, a span that included two par 3s and all the putts between 14-21 feet.Sergio Garcia, the 2001 Colonial champ in the same group as Johnson, shot a 66 to match Chris DiMarco, Tommy Gainey and Andres Romero.The 22-year-old English had never played a full round at Colonial until Thursday. That came three days after he shot rounds of 60 and 63 during a British Open qualifier at Gleneagles. That is a much more wide-open layout about an hour from Colonial."Three bogey-free rounds I have had in a row, which I've never done," English said. "I'm playing solid golf and not really getting out of position. I'm getting my putter going. I'm hitting it to 15 or 20 feet a lot and seemed to be making a good many of those. It's just been good."English, a winner last year on the Nationwide Tour as an amateur, has made 11 of 14 cuts in his first season on the PGA Tour.Garcia had an eagle-3 at the 558-yard No. 1, getting him to 5 under through 10 holes. His only bogey came after hitting his tee shot at the dogleg-left third hole into a greenside bunker, and he saved par out of bunkers his last two holes. He hasn't won on the PGA Tour in four years.Defending champion David Toms, in the group with Johnson and Garcia, had only one birdie in an opening 74. Last year, the 45-year-old Toms started with consecutive rounds of 62 to match the PGA Tour scoring record for the first 36 holes of a tournament.Dufner's approach at No. 9 was just off the back fringe, and he chipped to 6 feet before his par putt circled the cup without falling. A 25-foot birdie attempt at No. 10 rolled over the right edge of the cup, then he bogeyed the 635-yard 11th hole when his third shot went in a greenside bunker and he then two-putted from 9 feet.Dufner was playing with Matt Kuchar, who two weeks ago won The Players Championship, and Rickie Fowler, The Players runner-up who the week before that got his first PGA Tour victory at Quail Hollow.
Off we go: Ryo Ishikawa watches his tee shot on the 11th hole at the Colonial on Thursday in Fort Worth, Texas. KYODOJohnson opened his round with a 40-foot birdie putt on his first hole, No. 10. After blasting from a greenside bunker at No. 12 to save par, he had four birdies in a row on a day when gusty wind whipped through the big oaks lining the fairways at Hogan's Alley.Even though he has made the cut in all 12 tournaments he has played this season, Johnson hasn't won since the Colonial two years ago.Jason Dufner was a stroke back along with U.S. PGA Tour rookie Harris English, Tom Gillis and Kyle Reifers."Today was great. I got off to a good start, just hit some quality shots. I didn't put myself ever in a position that was too worrisome," Johnson said. "I kept the golf course in front me. I attacked when I could attack. I had a couple of nice saves when I needed it. ... I've got zero complaints."Dufner won the Byron Nelson Championship last week, and both of his PGA Tour victories have come in the last four weeks. He started at Colonial with three consecutive birdies, was 5 under after a 10-foot birdie putt at the 174-yard eighth hole, then overcame two bogeys in a three-hole stretch.Johnson opened with the big birdie putt at the 396-yard 10th hole on way to his 13th consecutive under-par round at Hogan's Alley. He set the Colonial tournament scoring record with his 21-under 259 in 2010, when he had a pair of 64s in his last PGA Tour victory.After hitting into a greenside bunker at the 435-yard 12th, he blasted to 9 feet to save par."The big putt that got me going," he said. He then had four consecutive birdies, a span that included two par 3s and all the putts between 14-21 feet.Sergio Garcia, the 2001 Colonial champ in the same group as Johnson, shot a 66 to match Chris DiMarco, Tommy Gainey and Andres Romero.The 22-year-old English had never played a full round at Colonial until Thursday. That came three days after he shot rounds of 60 and 63 during a British Open qualifier at Gleneagles. That is a much more wide-open layout about an hour from Colonial."Three bogey-free rounds I have had in a row, which I've never done," English said. "I'm playing solid golf and not really getting out of position. I'm getting my putter going. I'm hitting it to 15 or 20 feet a lot and seemed to be making a good many of those. It's just been good."English, a winner last year on the Nationwide Tour as an amateur, has made 11 of 14 cuts in his first season on the PGA Tour.Garcia had an eagle-3 at the 558-yard No. 1, getting him to 5 under through 10 holes. His only bogey came after hitting his tee shot at the dogleg-left third hole into a greenside bunker, and he saved par out of bunkers his last two holes. He hasn't won on the PGA Tour in four years.Defending champion David Toms, in the group with Johnson and Garcia, had only one birdie in an opening 74. Last year, the 45-year-old Toms started with consecutive rounds of 62 to match the PGA Tour scoring record for the first 36 holes of a tournament.Dufner's approach at No. 9 was just off the back fringe, and he chipped to 6 feet before his par putt circled the cup without falling. A 25-foot birdie attempt at No. 10 rolled over the right edge of the cup, then he bogeyed the 635-yard 11th hole when his third shot went in a greenside bunker and he then two-putted from 9 feet.Dufner was playing with Matt Kuchar, who two weeks ago won The Players Championship, and Rickie Fowler, The Players runner-up who the week before that got his first PGA Tour victory at Quail Hollow.
Johnson offers support to Chambers
LONDON — Canada's Ben Johnson on Thursday slammed critics of British sprinter Dwain Chambers, who was banned in 2003 after failing a drug test, saying the sprinter deserved his place at the London Olympics.Johnson, who was stripped of his 100-meter gold medal at the 1988 Seoul Olympics after testing positive for steroids, said other athletes should look at themselves before casting judgment."People shouldn't be pointing fingers, they should be worrying if they pass the test," Johnson told ITV News. "Many people who pointed fingers at me tested positive later on."He deserves a second chance," added the former athlete. "There are many people who have done bad things in the world but we don't know."
Sunday, May 13, 2012
Johnson leads TPC; McIlroy misses cut
PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Florida — After breaking 70 for the first time in seven weeks, Tiger Woods headed to the back of the practice range at the TPC Sawgrass to fine-tune his swing. That was much better than going to the clubhouse to clean out his locker.
Up there somewhere: Tiger Woods watches his shot from the fairway on the second hole in the second round of The Players Championship on Friday. Woods shot a 68 and is six strokes off the pace. APThe Players Championship featured Matt Kuchar, Zach John and Kevin Na atop the leaderboard Friday.What it lacked was some of the golf's biggest names.Rory McIlroy stumbled to a 76 and became the first player at No. 1 in the world ranking to miss the cut at Sawgrass since Greg Norman in 1996.Steve Stricker had made a PGA Tour-leading 49 cuts in a row until he shot 74 and ended a streak that began in August 2009.And with 11 holes left in his round, Woods was two shots over the cut line and in jeopardy of missing back-to-back cuts for the first time in his career.The thought never crossed his mind.Instead, he blistered a 5-wood into the breeze on the eighth hole — the toughest par 3 on the course — and watched it catch a slope on the edge of the green and roll 8 feet away from the cup. That was the first of four straight birdies for Woods, who wound up with a 68.He said he was only thinking about a 66 to get momentum going into the weekend, and he missed by two."I was trying to shoot my number today," Woods said. "Sixty-six was my number today. I figured that would have been a good way to go into the weekend, being probably four or five back. But I'm still with a good chance."Everyone has a chance going into the weekend, including Woods and Phil Mickelson, the Hall of Fame's newest member. They were six shots behind. But they are chasing the gang from Sea Island — home of Kuchar and Johnson, along with PGA Tour rookie Harris English, who was one shot out of the lead.Johnson made five birdies on the back nine until a bogey on the 18th hole, though he matched the best score of the second round with a 66.
Up there somewhere: Tiger Woods watches his shot from the fairway on the second hole in the second round of The Players Championship on Friday. Woods shot a 68 and is six strokes off the pace. APThe Players Championship featured Matt Kuchar, Zach John and Kevin Na atop the leaderboard Friday.What it lacked was some of the golf's biggest names.Rory McIlroy stumbled to a 76 and became the first player at No. 1 in the world ranking to miss the cut at Sawgrass since Greg Norman in 1996.Steve Stricker had made a PGA Tour-leading 49 cuts in a row until he shot 74 and ended a streak that began in August 2009.And with 11 holes left in his round, Woods was two shots over the cut line and in jeopardy of missing back-to-back cuts for the first time in his career.The thought never crossed his mind.Instead, he blistered a 5-wood into the breeze on the eighth hole — the toughest par 3 on the course — and watched it catch a slope on the edge of the green and roll 8 feet away from the cup. That was the first of four straight birdies for Woods, who wound up with a 68.He said he was only thinking about a 66 to get momentum going into the weekend, and he missed by two."I was trying to shoot my number today," Woods said. "Sixty-six was my number today. I figured that would have been a good way to go into the weekend, being probably four or five back. But I'm still with a good chance."Everyone has a chance going into the weekend, including Woods and Phil Mickelson, the Hall of Fame's newest member. They were six shots behind. But they are chasing the gang from Sea Island — home of Kuchar and Johnson, along with PGA Tour rookie Harris English, who was one shot out of the lead.Johnson made five birdies on the back nine until a bogey on the 18th hole, though he matched the best score of the second round with a 66.Monday, December 5, 2011
Johnson rallies past Woods behind unexpected eagle
THOUSAND OAKS, California — Tiger Woods lost his three-stroke margin with every shot that looked good until the wind decided otherwise. He lost his lead in the Chevron World Challenge because of something that was really out of his control.
On the prowl: Zach Johnson tees off on the first hole Saturday at the Chevron World Challenge. Johnson shot a 68 to rally past Tiger Woods and take a one-shot lead. APZach Johnson was 163 yards away in the 18th fairway on Saturday, one shot behind and hopeful of getting his 7-iron onto the top shelf to make par as easy as possible. Imagine his surprise when it landed near the hole and hopped back into the cup for an eagle that put him atop the leaderboard."I would have been happy with a 4, let alone a 3," Johnson said. "A 2 is a steal."That eagle gave him a 4-under 68, allowing him to make up a four-shot deficit to Woods and take a one-shot lead into the final round of the final official PGA Tour event this year in America.Woods had three bogeys on the par 5s and didn't feel as though he did much wrong.On two of them, he hit wedges that looked good until the cool, gusting wind shifted directions and sent the ball much farther than he imagined. On the other par 5, his fairway metal hit a gust and dropped into a hazard.The result was a 1-over 73. The prognosis wasn't nearly as bad."Even though I made three bogeys on par 5s, I had two three-putts, but I played well," Woods said. "I hit a lot of good shots that ended up in bad spots because I had bad gusts. So be it. That's the way it goes."I'm right there with a chance going into tomorrow."Johnson was at 8-under 208 and will be in the final group with Woods. K.J. Choi, who overcame a double bogey on the par-5 second hole for a 72 and was three shots out of the lead. No one else was closer than five.Woods had the 36-hole lead for the second straight tournament, and for the second straight time failed to break par in the third round.He felt differently Saturday than he did at the Australian Open in Sydney, where he opened with three straight bogeys and finished the day six shots out of the lead."Most of the time today, it wasn't me," Woods said. "I hit a lot of good shots today."The wind was strong and chilly from the start, and rarely stayed the same direction very long. With a wedge in his hand, Woods went some 40 feet long on the second hole that led to a three-putt bogey. Another wedge on the par-5 13th sailed over the green and left a pitch he had no chance to get close.Both players ran into trouble on the par-5 16th.Johnson was playing in the group ahead of Woods, felt the breeze in his face and tried to hammer a driver that went left of the grass and into the gallery. He tried to clear a creek and went into the trees to the right before pitching out and taking a bogey.Woods was in the fairway, but a gust took his fairway metal too far right and into a hazard. He said he thought about trying to hit out behind a pair of rocks before choosing to take a penalty drop, and he also made bogey.The difference was how they finished.Johnson three-putted the 17th for another bogey, then drilled his 7-iron at the flag on the 18th for the most unlikely finish to his round. Woods had to settle for pars.Johnson didn't realize his eagle on the final hole was for the lead. And even though he has a one-shot advantage, he doesn't think he's in contention until the final hour of any tournament.What about being in the last group with Woods, who has gone 26 starts since his last win?"He's never going to shock me on the golf course because he's certainly the best player I've ever played with," Johnson said after his round. "I'm glad I'm playing this week and I have the opportunity to go into Sunday with at least a chance."Johnson, a former Masters champion, saw his streak of four straight seasons winning on the PGA Tour end this year.The Chevron World Challenge counts toward the world ranking, but is not official for the tour. He still wouldn't mind using it as a springboard for the next season, much like Tom Lehman did in the early days of this event, and Jim Furyk did in 2009.Woods was not too disappointed about going from a three-shot lead to a one-shot deficit.He felt as though he played as well as he had the first two days, without having much luck with the wind. And for a guy who has gone two years without winning, the hardest part of hoisting a trophy is getting a chance.
On the prowl: Zach Johnson tees off on the first hole Saturday at the Chevron World Challenge. Johnson shot a 68 to rally past Tiger Woods and take a one-shot lead. APZach Johnson was 163 yards away in the 18th fairway on Saturday, one shot behind and hopeful of getting his 7-iron onto the top shelf to make par as easy as possible. Imagine his surprise when it landed near the hole and hopped back into the cup for an eagle that put him atop the leaderboard."I would have been happy with a 4, let alone a 3," Johnson said. "A 2 is a steal."That eagle gave him a 4-under 68, allowing him to make up a four-shot deficit to Woods and take a one-shot lead into the final round of the final official PGA Tour event this year in America.Woods had three bogeys on the par 5s and didn't feel as though he did much wrong.On two of them, he hit wedges that looked good until the cool, gusting wind shifted directions and sent the ball much farther than he imagined. On the other par 5, his fairway metal hit a gust and dropped into a hazard.The result was a 1-over 73. The prognosis wasn't nearly as bad."Even though I made three bogeys on par 5s, I had two three-putts, but I played well," Woods said. "I hit a lot of good shots that ended up in bad spots because I had bad gusts. So be it. That's the way it goes."I'm right there with a chance going into tomorrow."Johnson was at 8-under 208 and will be in the final group with Woods. K.J. Choi, who overcame a double bogey on the par-5 second hole for a 72 and was three shots out of the lead. No one else was closer than five.Woods had the 36-hole lead for the second straight tournament, and for the second straight time failed to break par in the third round.He felt differently Saturday than he did at the Australian Open in Sydney, where he opened with three straight bogeys and finished the day six shots out of the lead."Most of the time today, it wasn't me," Woods said. "I hit a lot of good shots today."The wind was strong and chilly from the start, and rarely stayed the same direction very long. With a wedge in his hand, Woods went some 40 feet long on the second hole that led to a three-putt bogey. Another wedge on the par-5 13th sailed over the green and left a pitch he had no chance to get close.Both players ran into trouble on the par-5 16th.Johnson was playing in the group ahead of Woods, felt the breeze in his face and tried to hammer a driver that went left of the grass and into the gallery. He tried to clear a creek and went into the trees to the right before pitching out and taking a bogey.Woods was in the fairway, but a gust took his fairway metal too far right and into a hazard. He said he thought about trying to hit out behind a pair of rocks before choosing to take a penalty drop, and he also made bogey.The difference was how they finished.Johnson three-putted the 17th for another bogey, then drilled his 7-iron at the flag on the 18th for the most unlikely finish to his round. Woods had to settle for pars.Johnson didn't realize his eagle on the final hole was for the lead. And even though he has a one-shot advantage, he doesn't think he's in contention until the final hour of any tournament.What about being in the last group with Woods, who has gone 26 starts since his last win?"He's never going to shock me on the golf course because he's certainly the best player I've ever played with," Johnson said after his round. "I'm glad I'm playing this week and I have the opportunity to go into Sunday with at least a chance."Johnson, a former Masters champion, saw his streak of four straight seasons winning on the PGA Tour end this year.The Chevron World Challenge counts toward the world ranking, but is not official for the tour. He still wouldn't mind using it as a springboard for the next season, much like Tom Lehman did in the early days of this event, and Jim Furyk did in 2009.Woods was not too disappointed about going from a three-shot lead to a one-shot deficit.He felt as though he played as well as he had the first two days, without having much luck with the wind. And for a guy who has gone two years without winning, the hardest part of hoisting a trophy is getting a chance.Saturday, April 23, 2011
Johnson vows more cash for Kings
Sacramento, Calif. — Sacramento Mayor Kevin Johnson has pledged additional money as part of a regional effort to persuade NBA officials to keep the Kings in California's capital.Johnson told NBA officials in Sacramento on Thursday that he has $ 9.2 million in commitments for new advertising, ticket purchases and other financial support from regional businesses and other backers. That’s up from the $ 7 million he presented to league owners at the NBA Board of Governors meeting last week.Johnson and other political and business leaders in the area were meeting with Oklahoma City Thunder owner and relocation committee chairman Clay Bennett and league attorney Harvey Benjamin on Thursday and Friday.The Kings have until May 2 to request permission to relocate to Anaheim.
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