How Masters champ Zach Johnson turned Saturday at Augusta into ‘stroll in the park’
There was a roar.
Zach Johnson’s head perked up. He was standing off to the side of the clubhouse and immediately stopped speaking. He thought for a moment and then offered his analysis. Sixty-three rounds at the Masters almost makes you an expert of Augusta National — its greens, its slopes and, apparently, its eruptions.
“That sounded like a hole-in-one on 16,” Johnson said, pausing for a beat. “Maybe an eagle on 15.”
It was neither. It was, instead, Rory McIlroy chipping in for eagle at No. 2 to take the lead.
So forgive Johnson on just about the only thing he flubbed on Saturday. At age 49, he put together his best tournament round ever at Augusta National, shooting a 6-under 66.
We like to think that every former Masters champion has built up a mental encyclopedia of course knowledge. That putting on the green jacket grants you this perpetual wisdom to play well at Augusta National. But that hasn’t been the case for Johnson.
Saturday was just the sixth time he’s broken 70 at the Masters. And perhaps that makes sense.
His 2007 title was a battle versus Mother Nature. He did not win the Masters that year by racking up birdies and going after scoring records. He won by outlasting the elements, by withstanding one of the coldest Masters weeks on record, by proving you could birdie Augusta’s par-5s without bombing the ball and trying for the green in two. He edged out Tiger Woods and Justin Rose and so many others despite weekend scores of 76-69.
Since 1956, Johnson remains the only player to win the Masters with a total score over par (1-over). So while it was easy to see his name bolt up the scoreboard early on Saturday and think back to Phil Mickelson putting a green jacket on Johnson, that was a different time, a different Augusta, a different Johnson.
“A lot of comparisons, 18 holes, 18 tee boxes,” Johnson said with a smirk. “My point in saying that is that was an anomaly of a year. They’ve had it before. I’m not suggesting we couldn’t have it again. You can. It’s April. But they’re going to be few and far between.”
And, perhaps, the same might be true of Johnson’s round on Saturday. He eagled the par-5 2nd hole. Then he let the birds loose on the second nine, birdied all of Amen Corner (Nos. 11, 12 and 13), then did the same at No. 15 and almost aced No. 16 before giving 1 back on 17.
But the highlight of the day — perhaps in true Johnson fashion — was his par on No. 5. He blasted a 293-yard drive and left himself an uphill putt for birdie. Only issue was he shorted the putt. It slid on the edge of the hump, then trickled down the slope. His 38-foot birdie putt became a 33-foot par putt.
It rolled up the hill, over the slope, smacked the pin and dropped. Johnson put his hands on his hips and dipped his head. If you screen-grabbed the image, you would’ve thought he just 7-putted. There was too much disbelief to smile.
“I was trying to 3-putt,” Johnson said. “It was an absolute gift.”
Sometimes you need those around this place. And on the days miracles occur, relish them.
Johnson walked off the 18th green just after McIlory teed off. Some patrons were just starting their day, about to embark on a quest to follow the leaders. And Johnson headed out of the scoring building and gave his father, Dave, a big hug, smacking him on the chest before falling back with a massive grin — one of those can-you-bellieve-what-just-happened grins.
Johnson can sort of believe it. Yes, he’s been losing the distance battle for years, but golf can become easy when you hit 90% of fairways. When the putts start to drop, when the magic seems never-ending, it’s a simple game.
“I don’t know if today is a flash,” Johnson said. “But today was, for lack of a better term, a stroll in the park. I didn’t feel like it was work.”
Masters TV, stream schedule
- Sunday: Round four, noon to 2 p.m., Paramount Plus; 2-7 p.m., CBS
This story was originally published April 12, 2025 at 5:12 PM with the headline "How Masters champ Zach Johnson turned Saturday at Augusta into ‘stroll in the park’."
