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Johnson defeats Imada in playoff to win AT&T Classic

Zach Johnson, right, applauds as he leaves the 18th green after defeating runner-up Ryuji Imada, left, on the first hole of a sudden-death playoff to win the AT&T Classic tournament in Duluth, Georgia, on Sunday. PHOTO: AP

US Masters champion Zach Johnson won the AT&T Classic on Sunday, beating Ryuji Imada with a birdie on the first hole of a playoff.

Johnson, who was also the 2004 winner, closed with a 5-under 67 to match Imada (70) at 15-under 273 on the TPC Sugarloaf.

In the playoff on the par-5 18th, Johnson hit his second shot above the pin, then rolled a 20m putt for eagle within 13cm of the hole.

Imada could only offer a congratulatory handshake. His tee shot landed in the left-side rough and his 3-wood failed to clear the water in front of the green.

Seeking to become just the third player from Japan to win on the US PGA Tour, Imada lost a critical stroke with a drop that all but nullified his next approach, which landed 4m from the pin.

For the 31-year-old Johnson, scoring conditions the last four days were nothing like those at Augusta National, which put on a bitterly cold, windy Masters six weeks ago, when Johnson matched the highest score in the major's history with a 1-over 289.

The AT&T, a suburban Atlanta event that moved from the week before the Masters to the warmer temperatures of this month, offered a favorite venue for Johnson, who was runner-up last year to two-time defending champion Phil Mickelson last year.

Matt Kuchar (70), Camilo Villegas (71) and Troy Matteson (73) tied for third at 12 under, and Chris Tidland (68), Stephen Marino (70) and Bob Estes (70) followed at 11 under.

Mickelson, a week after winning the Players Championship, skipped the tournament. Tiger Woods and many of the world's other top golfers did the same.

Imada, who began the day with a three-shot lead over Johnson, held his composure after two-putting from 2.3m for par at No. 17. Rather than dwell on disappointment, Imada drove the middle of the fairway before his approach shot flew the green and landed right on top of a sprinkler head 33m behind the pin.

He chipped within 1m and tapped in for a birdie that forced a first career playoff for both players.
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