Johnson wins Texas Open for second time in 7 months

Golf Betting Lines

05/17/2009 - San Antonio, TX (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Zach Johnson rolled in a 10-foot birdie putt on the first playoff hole Sunday to beat James Driscoll and win the Texas Open for the second time in seven months.

Johnson closed with an even-par 70 in the final round to join Driscoll in the playoff.

Driscoll, a relative unknown seeking his first career win on the PGA Tour, fired an eight-under 62 in the final round to surge into his share of the lead at 15-under-par 265.

Paul Goydos held the lead through 70 holes, but finished the final round bogey-bogey to shoot a 69 and end one shot out of the playoff. Goydos shared third place with Bill Haas (65) at 14-under 266.

Three-time Texas Open winner Justin Leonard (69) led a four-way tie for fifth place at 13-under 267.

In the playoff -- held at the 18th hole -- both Johnson and Driscoll found the fairway with their tee shots. Johnson knocked his second shot to 10 feet, while Driscoll came up much shorter, hitting his to 27 feet.

After Driscoll missed his birdie try, Johnson rolled his into the cup for the win.

Johnson's sixth career title, worth just over $1 million, vaulted the 33-year- old Iowan to the top of the FedEx Cup points list.

He won the Texas Open for the first time last October, then titled at the Sony Open in Hawaii in January.

Johnson took the lead with a course record-tying 60 on a rainy Saturday, one of the lucky players to finish his third round before play was suspended because of darkness.

The third round was completed early Sunday.

"I know it's hard to back up a round like that, and I certainly didn't play my best today, but there was times there when I could have gone further south," said Johnson. "Whether it was a one- or two-putt or a difficult shot or taking my medicine when I got myself in trouble, I kind of just remained patient and persevered."

In the middle of the afternoon, when it looked like anyone's tournament, Johnson was only one of seven or eight players with a legitimate shot to win.

Driscoll, who eagled No. 14, posted the number to beat when he rolled in a 15- foot birdie putt at the 18th hole to get into the clubhouse with the lead.

But there were 24 players -- and a soap opera of mistakes -- still left on the course.

Leonard and Haas were among those who squandered good opportunities.

But no one fared worse than Goydos, who took a one-shot lead over Johnson and Driscoll with a 13-foot birdie putt at the 16th hole -- then dynamited his chances for career win No. 3 with back-to-back bogeys.

Goydos three-putted for a bogey from 55 feet at the par-three 17th, falling back into a tie for the lead.

At the 18th, he knocked his approach into the rough and then duffed his second shot from 36 feet, not reaching the green.

Despite holding the lead through 70 holes, Goydos found himself giving a losing interview.

"Unfortunately we play 72," said Goydos, whose season began tragically in January with the sudden death of his ex-wife. "I didn't hit a good putt on 17, I didn't hit a good chip on 18, and guys who win...do."

Johnson tied Driscoll for the lead with a 15-foot birdie putt at the 13th hole. But he three-putted from 24 feet at the next hole, a par-five, to make a disappointing par.

Amid Goydos' collapse, however, Johnson was able to make four consecutive pars to end his round and slip into the playoff with Driscoll.

"I feel very lucky," he said.

When Johnson won at La Cantera last October, the Texas Open was part of the PGA Tour's middling Fall Series.

Despite a better spot as the opener to a three-event swing in the Lonestar State, this year's tournament still didn't manage to attract many big names.

Johnson, the 2007 Masters champion, was among the biggest.

Driscoll, who hadn't made a cut in three months, was not.

The 31-year-old from Brookline, Mass., was upbeat after his loss, even when he was given the chance to make his long rest -- he finished more than an hour before Johnson -- an excuse.

"I don't think it had much of an effect," said Driscoll, who played the final round without a bogey. "I stayed pretty loose, went to the range and hit some balls, and I felt fine out there."

He said he mis-read his birdie putt in the playoff.

"When you're that close, it's hard not to feel a little disappointed," said Driscoll. "But he birdied the first playoff hole. He deserves it."