Johnson to stick to game plan for Masters

Zach Johnson, who won the Masters last year without going for a par five in two all week, sees no reason to change his game-plan when he defends the title next month.

“I don’t think I’ve gotten a whole lot longer, so I don’t perceive the strategy changing,” said the American today.

“You can make birdies laying up and I was the perfect example of that.”

With a performance that amazed those who considered Augusta to be a long-hitter’s paradise, Johnson played the par fives in 11 under par, getting up and down for birdies 11 out of 16 times.

He was 12 over par for the other 14 holes, but still grabbed his first major title by two with a one over total that equalled the highest score in the history of the tournament.

Johnson settled on his game-plan in practice last year, deciding that only on the 510-yard dogleg 13th would he even consider going for the green in two.

“On the second and eighth I can’t get home. On the 15th I don’t know if I will ever go for that in two because it’s so difficult to hold the green. The 13th I can always get home, but I decided that if I didn’t have a three iron or less to the middle it was not worth it.

“The biggest temptation there was on the Sunday. I had 215 (yards) to the pin, but the wind was moving around and I knew I could wedge it to 10 feet or less. That’s what I did and I made the putt.

“With the right club and the right pin and the right conditions there will be a time when I might need to go for it this year. I just want to give myself the best chance.”

Johnson’s average driving distance throughout the week was “only” 265 yards, putting him 57th of the 60 players who survived the halfway cut. The only three shorter hitters were 55-year-old Ben Crenshaw, 53-year-old Craig Stadler and 43-year-old Miguel Angel Jimenez.

It was only the second victory of his US Tour career. The 32-year-old added a third shortly afterwards, but so far this season has had nothing better than a 20th place finish.

Not that that should unduly worry Johnson. This time last year his best 2007 finish was 33rd.