American Zach Johnson nervelessly sank four long-range birdie putts over the closing stretch to overhaul British pacesetter Brian Davis for a three-shot victory at the Colonial Invitational on Sunday.
Ice-cool on a hot and humid afternoon at Colonial Country Club, Johnson shrugged off two suspensions in play because of threatening weather to card a sizzling six-under-par 64.
The 2007 US Masters champion broke clear of a congested leaderboard with birdies at 12, 13, 15 and 17, sandwiching a lone bogey on 14 as he posted a tournament record low of 21-under 259.
“There is a reason why I love playing here and I keep coming back,” a beaming Johnson said greenside after clinching his seventh PGA Tour title, and his third in Texas. “The course does suit me as far as shot-making, I think, and certainly the bent grass, which is what I grew up on. I just feel honored.”
Englishman Davis, who had led by two shots with 11 holes to play in pursuit of a maiden PGA Tour victory, had to settle for second place after bogeying the last for a 68.
Johnson’s playing partner Ben Crane rolled in a 10m to birdie the 18th for a 67, tying for third at 17-under with fellow American Jeff Overton who also closed with a 67.
For much of the afternoon, it seemed Davis would finally land a breakthrough win just six weeks after he lost a playoff for the Heritage Classic at Hilton Head where he called a two-stroke penalty on himself at the first extra hole.
Co-leader overnight with American Bryce Molder, he birdied the first two holes to edge one ahead before he faltered at the par-four fifth, where he had to take a penalty drop after hitting his tee shot into a hazard.
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