Photo by Andrew Redington/Getty Images Zach Johnson on his way to a stellar round on the third day of the Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club. He fired a dazzling 6-under 66. That score stands out as the highest achieved by any champion since 2007. That’s an astounding career average over 65 rounds played at such a prestigious venue. He put together a dominant final frame where he made a series of phenomenal plays. One of the day’s highlights was his incredible eagle on the par-5 second hole, making a super long 41-foot putt.
Johnson’s successful day on the course began hours before the leading players, including Justin Rose and Rory McIlroy, teed off. He credited his strong performance to his pairing with Jon Rahm, stating, “One-hundred percent, those are my guys. Those are the ones that you look to.” This connection inspired a fire within him, stoking his confidence and guiding him through the treacherous bumps and swales of Augusta with daring and precision.
The golfer’s momentum ballooned when he made his initial birdie at the ninth hole. He answered that with consecutive birdies on the ninth and tenth holes! On a torrid run of eight holes, Johnson recorded six birdies. Through that entire course, he demonstrated his awesome capacity to create and leverage opportunities. Tom Kim’s birdie at the par-3 12th hole, better known as “Golden Bell,” stands out above the rest. From 155 yards out, he powered his approach shot inside 15 feet, setting up yet another birdie.
Continuing his strong play, Johnson added a birdie at the par-5 15th hole, where he deftly dropped a wedge within three feet for an easy conversion. His late streak of holes-in-one catapulted him into contention. That was particularly amazing as he had just squeaked through the cut line at 2-over par on Friday.
Johnson’s performance is truly stellar, due in large part to his perfect score. He capped off a pretty incredible streak of 28 consecutive rounds at the Masters without posting a score in the 60s. Reflecting on his experience at Augusta, he noted, “Yeah, this place can bring out the absolute best in someone, and it starts either taking a left or right down that lane.”
As he prepares to write his own future, Johnson has earned his way into a seat at the table with the golfing greats. He places Jon Rahm, Bernhard Langer, and Fred Couples in the group of contemporaries, giving the latter two credit for their impact on his career. Despite feeling challenged by distance in today’s game, he remains optimistic about achieving respectable finishes: “I don’t hit the ball far enough to compete on some of these venues, but it doesn’t mean I can’t have a decent finish. It doesn’t mean I can’t make cuts. That doesn’t mean I’m not able to do it.”
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