Apr8 Johnson audio
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Masters champion Zach Johnson said “the giant had to fall some time” after crushing Tiger Woods’ record of winning every Major he’s ever led.
Johnson, from small town Cedar Rapids in Iowa, added his Masters victory was all the sweeter because he beat the best player in the world.
“It wasn’t over until Tiger had played his second shot into 18”, said Johnson, whose one-under par winning total beat Woods, Retief Goosen and Rory Sabbatini by two.
“I half-expected Tiger to hole his second shot and take me into a playoff – he’s done stranger things! It certainly feels gratifying to beat him.”
The 31-year-old added: “I didn’t know I was in the lead until the 15th. I didn’t look at the scoreboards until then, though I had an idea from the crowd I was doing OK. With it being Easter Sunday, I felt another power walking with me today.”
The turning point for his round came at the par-3 8th, where he chipped in for eagle to get within a shot of Goosen and Sabbatini’s lead. Then he made back-to-back birdies on 13 and 14 to get the outright lead, which he never gave up. Another birdie on the par-3 16th put the tournament beyond doubt.
“I think there was some redemption out there today,” he added. “I three-putted 16 every day apart from Sunday.”
Hear highlights from Johnson’s post-round interview here.
