How good was +1?

Written by Bryan Spitzer

Monday, 07 April 2008

How good was +1: Last years Masters was only the third time Zach Johnson had been in the field at Augusta.  In previous two attempts he amassed one cut 32nd place (2006) where he finished 12 shots behind the winner (Phil Mickelson).  Last April, Johnson did something that is one the rarest feats in all of golf.  He who averages 12+ yards behind the tour average in Driving distance for 2008, played the par 5's at the Masters at -11 under par and not once going for a single par 5 green in two.  Taking a closer look at both his shot selection and the numbers we see why this victory (in the worst masters conditions ive ever seen) is so impressive. Johnson, through the pressure of the tournament's tradition, beauty, grind, awe, and history created a gameplan and stuck to it all four days.  The monsterous par 5's 2 and 8, the trecherous par 5's 13 and 15 and in each case Johnson played to a perfect wedge for his third and flat outputted the course.  Additionally, he took bogey out of the equation and never lost a stroke to any par 5 on any day. The average player, while never having to face the same pressures or execution as did Johnson last year, can take a couple of great lessons from his play and overall gameplan.  Zach Johnson proved that playing within one's abilities is the best way to score.  If you dont have the shot to reach in two because it requires a cut to have a fighting chance to score under par then play the shot that gives you the best distance and line to attack the flag.  on a 535 yard dogleg left par five where you have 285 to the pin, play an approach that leave you with a full club whether its a 9, PW, SW, or LW.  Whichever you play the best.  Now, what Zach Johnson's story and scorecard does not show you is how to prepare to be playing the best club for particular shots.  Before you begin your round and if dont already know the course, take a look and figure out some possible distances you may have for third shots into a long par 5, once youve determined thsoe shots work a bit, say 20-30 balls on varying distances that might fall within that range this way when you hit the course and are faced with these shots youve already got the distance and feel for how youre hitting the ball today.  This is what Zach Johnson did and while he certainly hit balls with his fairway woods and long irons he did not do so in preparation for playing the par 5's at Augusta.  The bulk of his work was precision in his short game, another good lesson in of itself. (1)

Last Updated ( Monday, 07 April 2008 )

 

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