Johnson's strategy pays off at Crowne Plaza Invitational

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Zach Johnson celebrates a birdie on No. 17 during the final round at Colonial CC.

FORT WORTH, Texas -- Three weeks ago he arrived in another city in the Lone Star State riding high as the Valero Texas Open's two-time defending champion.

And as it turned out, that big fat 80 Zach Johnson shot in the first round at TPC San Antonio may have paved the way for the success he had on Sunday when he won for the seventh time in his PGA TOUR career.

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Johnson went on to miss the cut at Valero and headed home to Georgia for some soul-searching. He returned to the Crowne Plaza Invitational at Colonial determined see how things would unfold, rather than get ahead of himself.

"I was trying to force things for a period there," Johnson said. "I was too concerned about Sunday on Thursday just because I felt my game was in good condition. I felt like I should be able to contend and win, and rather than letting it happen."

So Johnson came to Fort Worth relaxed and refreshed -- with what he called a "nothing-to-lose sort of spirit." And the strategy worked wonders at Colonial as he came from one stroke behind and ended up beating Brian Davis by three with his second straight 64.

Johnson didn't get rattled early in the week when his putter didn't keep pace with the solid ball-striking that would eventually land him first in greens in regulation and tied for 10th in fairways hit. He was patient and it paid off with a tournament record total of 21-under par.

"Zach played great today," Davis said. "He won the tournament. I didn't lose it."

Those sessions with Johnson's sports psychologist back at Sea Island, Ga., Morris Pickens, certainly paid dividends at Colonial. He now has won in each of the last four seasons, joining Masters champ Phil Mickelson as the only players who can make that claim.

And when things finally started to "happen" for Johnson on Sunday, he took advantage -- shooting a 31 on the back nine that enabled him to pull away. His birdie putts on that stretch came from 10, 21, 22, 24 and 14 feet.

"I was kind of due to make some putts as well as I was hitting it and the opportunities I gave myself," Johnson acknowledged. "I just remained patient. ... Going in that the back nine, my mind frame was, I don't care if I win this golf tournament, or I don't care if I lose it. I'm content with whatever happens.

"I'm going to go out fighting, and I'm going to go out aggressive."

All the putts on the back nine were big. But the 25-footer that brought out a relatively modest fist pump on the 15th hole may have been the most important of the day since it came before the first rain delay and enabled Johnson to bounce back from his only bogey of the day.

"That one kept me, rather than excited, it calmed me down which was nice," Johnson said.

Even during the two rain delays, Johnson was focused on his new-found attitude rather than the very real possibility of victory that was at hand. Even when the 14-footer he rolled in at the 17th hole gave him a solid two-stroke lead.

"The one thing I wanted mentally to fixate on was the things that I could control," Johnson said. "Those things that I could control certainly are my rhythm, my tempo, how I walk and my routines.

"And, you know, good or bad, the outcome was insignificant."

It paid off handsomely, too, with 500 FedExCup points that moved him to 14th in the standings and the $1.116 million to pad his bank account. Johnson has now won three times in Texas and three in Georgia -- with the 2009 Sony Open in Hawaii thrown in for good measure.

While the 2007 Masters champ said he won't be moving to Texas any time soon like he did to the southeast Georgia coast 18 months ago, he certainly was pleased to slip his arms into that red tartan jacket symbolic of a win at Hogan's Alley.

"The green one was humbling, probably a bit more surreal," Johnson said. "I used that word a lot back in '07 because it still is. (But) just knowing the gentlemen who have donned this jacket, and putting myself in that company, is very humbling."