By Bill Cooney, PGATOUR.COM Zach Johnson has a green
jacket in his closet and has played on multiple Ryder Cup teams.
But winning the John Deere Classic -- his home event and one he's
called his fifth major -- certainly ranks right up there. It took a
world-class shot to finally pull it off. Johnson carded a
final-round, 6-under 65, withstood some late heroics from Troy
Matteson (69), and then defeated Matteson with a spectacular shot
that resulted in a winning birdie on the second playoff hole at TPC
Deere Run on Sunday in Silvis, Ill. Johnson, who trailed by as many
as five shots on the front nine, rallied with birdies on Nos. 7, 8,
10, 13 and 14. He took the lead when Matteson double-bogeyed the
15th hole. Johnson added a birdie on the par-5 17th to get to 20
under, seemingly clear of the field. But Matteson canned a
60-footer for eagle on the 17th to tie Johnson. After making par
from the trees on the 18th, Matteson joined Johnson on the 18th tee
for the playoff. Both players struggled on the first playoff hole,
matching double bogeys after hitting their second shots in the
hazard left of the green. On the second playoff hole (also the
18th), Johnson hit his 190-yard second shot 6-iron from the fairway
bunker to within inches of the hole. He would tap in for birdie and
the win. "I think we're stating the obvious," Johnson said of his
second shot in the playoff. "That was really good. That was my shot
of the week." It was Johnson's ninth career victory and second of
the season. It moved him up to second in the FedExCup standings,
trailing only Tiger Woods. Steve Stricker, who was attempting to
become just the fifth player in history to win the same event four
times in succession, carded a final-round 70 and finished four
shots back in a tie for fifth place. Stricker's run became undone
with bogeys on Nos. 14 and 15. He had got within one shot of the
lead three times. Scott Piercy (65) finished third and John Senden
(67) was fourth. Despite the playoff defeat, Matteson qualified for
next week's British Open, as the highest top-five finisher not
already exempt.
