FORT WORTH — Zach Johnson was so caught up in the emotion of another Colonial title that he forgot to properly remark his ball before his final putt.
Even with a two-stroke penalty, Johnson won by one shot over Jason Dufner and got to slip on the plaid jacket Sunday for his first victory since also winning at Hogan’s Alley two years ago.
“There’s a number of adjectives I’m calling myself right now. And lucky would be the biggest one,” Johnson said. “Blessed would be another one, humbled would be another one. It’s an honor to put this jacket on once. ... I’m in shock I got it twice.”
Johnson moved his original ball mark out of the line of Dufner’s putt on the 18th green. But he never moved it back before his final five foot putt. The penalty was assessed before he signed his scorecard, and Johnson’s 12-under 268 total was enough to edge Dufner, who closed with a 74.
Johnson had already shared celebratory hugs and kisses with his two young sons and done a winner’s television interview before caddie Damon Green, prompted by a rules official, asked the 2007 Masters champion if he had put his ball back in its original spot.
“First time it crossed my mind,” Johnson said. “It’s not going to be the last time.”
The victory came 10 days after Green’s 88-year old father died from stomach cancer. After Johnson’s runner-up finish at The Players Championship two weeks ago, the caddie drove to Pensacola, Fla., to see his father. But Damon Green was ready to get back on the course this week.
“He wanted to be here, he felt like his dad wanted him to be here,” Johnson about his caddie of 10 years. “I think he’s the one that deserves this one more than I do. His courage and certainly his strength to get through last week and then work, and work well this week, to stay focused somehow. That’s really commendable.”
It is the eighth PGA Tour victory for Johnson, who won $1,152,000.
Tommy Gainey was a distant third at 7 under after a 67, a stroke better than Jim Furyk. Ken Duke (Arkadelphia, Henderson State) shot 71 and finished tied for 26th at even par. He earned $47,360. Bryce Molder (Conway) shot 70 and finished tied for 31st at 1 over. He earned $37,120. John Daly (Dardanelle, Arkansas Razorbacks) shot 74 and finished tied for 41st at 3 over.He earned $23,040.
Johnson took command at the 414-yard 15th hole. Dufner’s approach hit the left side of that green then rolled into a ditch, leading to a triple bogey that put him four strokes back after Johnson’s par.
Dufner’s only two PGA Tour victories came in the previous four weeks. After winning last week at the Byron Nelson Championship, he was trying to match Ben Hogan as the only players to win both PGA Tour events in the Dallas-Fort Worth area in the same year. Hogan did it in 1946, when the tournaments weren’t played in consecutive weeks.
“Pretty good run, today obviously a little disappointing to play that poorly and not kind of a chance there at the end,” Dufner said. “I feel pretty good actually. ... I just played really poorly today.”
Johnson had blown a two stroke lead before going back ahead with his 9-foot birdie putt at the 445-yard 14th. At the 616-yard 11th, a straight par 5, Johnson’s drive hit a tree and ricocheted back into the middle of the fairway. He took advantage with a 19 foot birdie putt to get to 15 under. Dufner wasn’t as fortunate with his wayward drive, which settled under a tree. He had to punch a low shot around the branches before hitting his approach into a green side bunker and two-putting from 23 feet for bogey.
They were tied at 14 under going to the back nine after Dufner’s double bogey at the 386-yard ninth hole, where his approach from 103 yards hit just short of the green and rolled back into the water. After driving into a fairway bunker at the 382-yard second hole, Dufner three putted from 28 feet for his first bogey on any of the first eight holes all week. Johnson made a 28-foot birdie putt to go in front by a stroke.
“What (Dufner) has done the last month is beyond impressive,” Johnson said. “I kind of feel like I somewhat unseated a king to me because he has been on top for four weeks.”
EUROPEAN TOUR
Donald wins, No. 1 again
VIRGINIA WATER, England - Luke Donald held off Justin Rose to win the BMW PGA Championship for the second consecutive year Sunday and overtake Rory McIlroy for the No. 1 ranking.
Donald won by four strokes after starting the fourth round at Wentworth with a two-stroke lead. He shot a 4-under-par 68 to finish at 15 under. Sharing second place were Rose (70) and Paul Lawrie (66).
This was Donald’s second victory of the year, following the Transitions Championship in the United States in March.
“It gives me a great amount of satisfaction,” Donald said. “To go a whole year and still be No. 1, I feel very fortunate right now.”
This is the fourth time Donald has been ranked. No. 1. It’s the sixth change at the top of the rankings in 12 weeks between Donald and McIlroy. McIlroy missed the cut after a second-round 79.
Leaderboard At Colonial Country Club (Par 70, 7,204 yards) Fort Worth, Texas
Zach Johnson ........64-67-65-72-268 Jason Dufner ..........65-64-66-74-269 Tommy Gainey .......66-67-73-67-273
ARKANSANS Ken Duke ................68-75-66-71-280 Bryce Molder ..........72-64-75-70-281 John Daly ...............70-69-70-74-283 - Complete scores, Page 5C
Sports, Pages 17 on 05/28/2012