Oct 12, 2008 - 10:19 PM
0 shoutsSAN ANTONIO (Ticker) -- Zach Johnson fired a 6-under-par 64 on Sunday to post a two-stroke victory at the Texas Open.
Entering the day a shot off the pace, Johnson had seven birdies and a bogey to finish at 19-under 261, two strokes ahead of a group of three players.
Johnson started with a birdie but gave it right back with a bogey at No. 2. He had three consecutive birdies starting at No. 6 and he picked up another birdie at No. 10 to start the back nine.
Johnson led by one after a birdie at No. 14 and he came to the 18th tee needing just a par to clinch his first win since the 2007 AT&T Classic. He did one better, icing the win with a birdie.
Some time off and a return to basics keyed the week according to Johnson.
"I made the commitment, I had six weeks off or seven, whatever it was, since New Jersey. Much of that was forced off and some of it was choice," Johnson said. "I made the commitment to go back to what I used to do, the way I'm supposed to do it and ball-striking and putting, and I didn't anticipate hitting me this quick but, you know, it certainly helped.
"Given that, I still see a lot of room for improvement which I guess is even more encouraging than anything else."
Entering the week, Johnson had just one top-10 finish this season. He had not played since missing the cut at The Barclays to start the FedEx Cup playoffs, making his performance this week a bit unexpected.
"I had two things in my mind this week as far as going into the week and one was no expectations," Johnson said. "So, no, I did not expect to be here but I guess that's a good thing.
"The second was just to - you know, I made some commitments to my fundamentals, to my golf swing and starting to payoff. So it's very encouraging."
Charlie Wi did about all he could but still came up short. A bogey-free 9-under-61 put Wi at 17-under 263 and into a tie for second with Mark Wilson and Tim Wilkinson.
Wi had four birdies on the front nine, including back-to-back at Nos. 8 and 9. He added five more coming in, including three straight starting at the 14th.
"Before I teed off Elkington shot 61 so I knew it was out there but I didn't think I was going to do it," Wi said. "I'm very pleased and was able to make some putts. It added up to 61.
"I hung in there today, kept giving myself chances and made some putts today which helped me shoot 61. I'm very pleased."
Defending champion Justin Leonard came up short in his bid for a fourth title here. He fired a 66 on Sunday to finish at 11-under 269.
