TOC: Zach Johnson steals the show

Pic Courtesy: PGA Tour

January 7, 2013: Zach Johnson continued his winning streak in the new year the same way he ended the last one.

Johnson shot three straight birdies on the back nine at Kapalua and closed with a 7-under 66 for a one-shot victory over Jordan Spieth in the Hyundai Tournament of Champions on Monday.

Johnson relied on tacts he is best at, chipping and putting, and he emerged triumphant

He hit a wedge to 8 feet for birdie on the 14th to take the outright lead for the first time. Facing a dangerous shot up a steep slope to a green with a false front, Johnson caught it perfectly on the 15th for an easy birdie. And he hit wedge to 5 feet for a third straight birdie that gave him control.

Spieth, was in the process of becoming the youngest player with two PGA TOUR wins since Ralph Guldahl in 1932. However, he birdied his last two holes for a 69 to finish one shot behind the leader.

“I just picked it apart,” said Johnson, who finished at 19-under 273. “I didn’t deviate from anything I typically do on a golf course.”

Webb Simpson, tied with Spieth and defending champion Dustin Johnson to start the final round, never caught up and closed with a 70. He tied for third with Kevin Streelman, who had a 67. That finish, however, was enough to push Simpson atop the FedExCup standings.

Jason Dufner was four strokes back in fifth after a 69.

Dustin Johnson made three bogeys before making his first birdie. He shot even-par 73 and tied for sixth.

Zach Johnson might finally get some of the credit he deserves as among the elite in golf, even though he doesn’t have the raw power of his peers. This was the 11th win of his career. Since his rookie season in 2004, only Woods, Phil Mickelson and Vijay Singh have won more PGA TOUR events.

It also was his third win in his last six starts, dating to the BMW Championship north of Chicago in September that qualified him for the winners-only event in Kapalua.

Masters champion Adam Scott got within one shot of the lead with an eagle on the 15th hole, only for his wedge to hit the flag on the 16th. He had to settle for par, and he closed with a bogey to finish in the tie for sixth. He never was a serious threat to win, though, not with Zach Johnson facing so many easy birdie holes and making it look easy.