Surreal Deal: A tale of two golfers

AUGUSTA, Ga. — Tiger Woods, 10 years later:

"Honestly, what the hell just happened?"

Zach Johnson happened. Woods' anniversary coronation didn't happen.

And now we have the first Masters champion ever to require Googling.

While Woods descended to temporary mediocrity, a man formerly on the Hooters Tour did his best steely Tiger impersonation. Johnson was the one extending his arm and holding it strong to celebrate. He was the one who played daring and dashing golf. He was the one who took a tournament waiting for a savior and threw it over his shoulder.

He was the one who did what we kept waiting for Woods to do.

The unforgiving 2007 Masters can be captured in one moment. Johnson already had carded a score of 69 Sunday to finish at 1-over-par when Woods hit his second shot on the 17th hole. The ball fell short of the green and dropped into the bunker.

That's when Woods, who was two shots back, had his "What the hell?" tantrum. That's when Johnson unofficially clinched the victory.

This moment had it all: Woods' frustrating ability to come from behind and Johnson's audacity to shoot a low number on the final day, then relax and disappear and watch Woods falter.

Before this Masters began, Woods was asked whether there were younger players good enough to challenge him, Phil Mickelson and Vijay Singh at Augusta National.

"Who?" Woods asked as a room of reporters chuckled.

Well, Johnson is younger. They're both 31, but Woods turns 32 two months before Johnson. Of course, that question's implied purpose was to wonder if Woods thought Charles Howell III and a few other twentysomethings could hang.

Nobody cared about Johnson's chances.

Woods was celebrating the 10-year anniversary of his first major, a resounding and record-setting 12-shot Masters victory. Johnson was remembering it had been six years since he visited Augusta as a fan.

During the 2001 Masters, Johnson was playing on the mini-tours. Vaughn Taylor, one of Johnson's best friends on the PGA Tour, scrounged up some tickets for Johnson and his buddies. Johnson attended the practice rounds the Monday before the tournament started. He walked all 18 holes, amazed.

"My mouth was agape," said Johnson, who didn't earn his PGA Tour card until 2004. "I was in awe. You don't see that on the mini-tours."

Johnson went on to win the last three events on the Hooters Tour in 2001. They nicknamed him "Back-to-Back-to-Back Zach."

Woods won his second Masters that year.

"As far as the struggle goes, comparing me to Tiger, obviously I've struggled," Johnson said. "But I feel like, professionally, I'm where I need to be. I'm playing a game for a living, most importantly. Comparing myself to arguably the most amazing professional athlete, especially in golf, is maybe a little bit misleading."

But contrasting the two does turn out favorably for Johnson in one area. He has a come-from-behind majors victory. Woods doesn't.

It's hard to criticize a man on pace to be the greatest golfer ever, but Woods still has shown only front-running tendencies. He has 12 majors, but he hasn't rallied on the final day to win one. He's the finest closer in golf, his presence wilting all who challenge him, but we have yet to see him pull off the incredible comeback.

On Sunday, he had his chance. He was one shot off the lead coming into the day. He briefly took the lead after the third hole, but quickly lost it.

We hadn't seen that before in a major. Woods, who finished tied for second with a 3-over-par 291, normally strangles the competition when victory is within sight. This time, the most unlikely Masters champion since Larry Mize wiggled loose.

So there was an anniversary, after all. Twenty years ago, Mize chipped in from 140 feet away and danced off the greens after beating Greg Norman in a playoff. Now we have Johnson, a Cinderella who didn't need drama.

"I don't even know what I shot," Johnson said, explaining his focus. "Ignorance is bliss sometimes."

Well, let's replay the achievement. Johnson started the day at 4-over, two shots off the lead. He bogeyed the first hole but chased it with birdies on Nos. 2 and 3. Then he birdied Nos. 13, 14 and 16.

His final score of 289 ties him with Sam Snead (1952) and Jack Burke (1956) as the worst-scoring Masters champions.

Not that he cares. He's still the winner. He's still the guy who outlasted Woods, Retief Goosen and Rory Sabbatini for only his second PGA Tour triumph.

He's still the guy who injected flair into one lame Masters and reminded us that Woods is capable of sneezing.

Zach Johnson, Masters champion.

Honestly, what the hell just happened?

Who?

"I'm Zach Johnson," he said, introducing himself, "and I'm from Cedar Rapids, Iowa. That's about it. I'm just a normal guy."

Jerry Brewer: 206-464-2277 or jbrewer@seattletimes.com.

Information in this article, originally published April 9, 2007, was corrected April 9, 2007. A previous version of this story incorrectly stated that Masters champion Zach Johnson's final score was 291. His actual score was 289.