“Just a Midwest guy from Iowa.”
Zach Johnson thanked his coaches, his family, his supporters and his God today on Easter, after his win at the 71st Masters Golf Tournament in Augusta, Georgia.
(Video- 4:36 minutes)
Golfer Zach Johnson from Iowa won the 71st Masters today at Augusta National.
The AP reported:
“I’m from Cedar Rapids, Iowa,” he said when asked to describe himself. “That’s about it. I’m a normal guy.”
Not anymore.
Normal guys don’t beat Woods in the final round of a major, especially when Woods is in the lead. Normal guys aren’t unfazed by the ground-shaking cheers of Woods making an eagle to mount a charge.
Johnson pulled away from Woods and the rest of the pack with three birdies in a pivotal four-hole stretch, closing with a 3-under 69 for a two-shot victory over Woods, Retief Goosen and Rory Sabbatini. It was only the second victory of his career.
Woods was within two shots after his eagle on the 13th hole, but all he could muster were pars the rest of the way. His last chance ended when his approach to the 18th settled 25 feet to the right of the pin. And for the first time ever in a major, Woods walked the final hole with no trophy waiting for him at the end and no one behind him on the course
“I was sitting in the locker room, waiting for Tiger to hit his shot on 18, and I thought, ‘He’s done stranger things,”‘ Johnson said. “The guy is a phenom. The next person to come along like him, who knows how long that will be? It makes it that much more gratifying knowing I beat Tiger Woods.”
Even more gratifying to the 31-year-old Johnson was winning on Easter.
“My faith is very important to me,” he said. “I had people looking after me. It was awesome.”
Defending champion Phil Mickelson of the United States puts the green jacket on Zach Johnson of the United States after winning the 71st Masters Golf Tournament in Augusta, Georgia. (AFP)
The Des Moines Register has a nice write up on the “Iowa Boy” today.
