It’s been 18 years since Zach Johnson won the Masters, his first of two major championship titles to go along with the 2015 British Open. But the 49-year-old proved Saturday he still has plenty of game, shooting up the leaderboard with a personal-best 6-under 66 in the third round at Augusta National.
Making his 21st start at Augusta National, Johnson drained a 41-foot eagle putt on the par-5 No. 2, dropped his first shot of the day with a bogey on the par-3 sixth, then birdied Nos. 9, 10, 12, 13, 15 and 16. He bogeyed 17 after a drive left into the trees and an approach into the front greenside bunker. A par on the closing 18th secured the best round of those who teed off Saturday morning.
Finishing before the leaders even teed off, Johnson started the third round at 2 over par after having made the cut on the number. He climbed as high as a tie for fifth place mid-way through Saturday before the bogey knocked him into a tie for 11th at the time he completed his round. The 66 tied Rory McIlroy for the second-lowest round of the week, trailing only fellow 40-something Justin Rose’s opening 65.
The 66 was Johnson’s personal best at Augusta by two shots. He shot 68 in 2015 on his way to a tie for ninth place. When he won in 2007, a Masters marked by cold temperatures and strong winds, Johnson shot rounds of 71-73-76-69 for a 289 total to beat Retief Goosen, Rory Sabbatini and some guy named Tiger Woods by two shots. Johnson’s 1-over 289 tied for the highest winning total ever at the Masters.
The U.S. captain at the 2023 Ryder Cup, Johnson’s most famous pass at the ball at Augusta in recent years came in 2019 when his practice swing knocked his golf ball off the tee and ricocheting of a tee marker on the par-5 13th. Video of the no-penalty mishap went viral.
Zach Johnson hitting his ball on 13th tee on a practice swing.
— National Club Golfer (@NCG_com) April 12, 2019
WOW. 😂😂 pic.twitter.com/UcUkKYOEVm
Johnson missed the cut in three of the past four Masters, only making it to the weekend in 2023 when he tied for 34th.
This article originally appeared on Golfweek: Zach Johnson, 49, shoots up Masters leaderboard with third-round 66
