Zach Johnson Birdies 18 For A Share Of The Hyundai Lead

Sep 12, 2014; Atlanta, GA, USA; Zach Johnson talks with his caddie Damon Green after his second shot on the first fairway during the second round of the Tour Championship at East Lake Golf Club. Mandatory Credit: Jason Getz-USA TODAY Sports

It’s taken quite a few trips to Maui for 38 year-old Zach Johnson to get the hang of playing at the 7400 yard, par 73 Kapalua Resort Plantation Course, which is home to the Hyundai Tournament of Champions. Last year, the 2007 Masters Champion broke through for his first win on Maui, and as long as the wind stays in check, I believe he has as good a chance this year, as anyone.

Zach Johnson….Defending Champ

Zach Johnson, Jimmy Walker, and Sang Moon Bae all took advantage of a second-round slow-down by 36-hole leader, Russell Henley on Saturday afternoon and caused a logjam at the halfway point of the 2015 season opener.

Of the leaders, Johnson had the best day, carding a six under par 67 on Saturday. He managed four birdies on the back nine, including the two par fives at 15, and 18. The defending champ made one bogey on the day, which came at the par three eighth.

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"“I’ve just finally gotten used to it,” Johnson said of the 7,452-yard course. “It’s just about getting your feet on these holes and seeing different winds and figuring out how to attack it. The more I see it and play it, the more I like it.“My first five or six years here, it was frustrating because I’m seeing these guys shoot 5 and 6 under every single day and can’t figure out how they’re doing it. But now I finally feel more comfortable and I know what holes to lay back on and where to attack.”"

By taking a look at the stats on the week so far, it’s not hard to see why Zach Johnson has a share of the lead. He has taken full advantage of the very generous fairways with a 100% Driving Accuracy average, and a 100% Green-in-Regulation average.

The 25 year-old Russell Henley didn’t have a bad day on Saturday, he just couldn’t find the magic with flat-stick he had going on Friday. The 3.744 Srokes Gained Putting statistic he put up on Friday, turned into a mediocre, 0.869 in the second round.

The 2014 Honda Classic champ has shown that he can win in Hawaii, and is still in this tournament, which will have a rare Monday finish.

The Saturday Movers

The big movers on Saturday came from Charley Hoffman, and Hideki Matsuyama who both shot the low rounds of the day at Kapalua Resort. Both fired seven under par 66’s on Saturday, and moved up 13 positions on the leaderboard. They share fifth place with three others, one shot off the pace.

Aug 21, 2014; Paramus, NJ, USA; Charley Hoffman hits his approach shot on the 16th hole during the first round of The Barclays golf tournament at Ridgewood Country Club. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports

The thirty-eight year-old three-time winner on the PGA Tour blistered the Plantation Course with nine birdies on Saturday, and had he not gotten in big trouble on the 17th hole, would have been your lone leader. A double bogey on the par four dropped him into the group, one back.

Hoffman thought he had made an ace at the par three 11th and had won a new car. He had to settle for another tap-in birdie.

"“It was just a little cut 8-iron up against the wind, just trying to get it down there in the hollow,” he said. “I thought I made it. I don’t know how close it came, but I thought I had a new car in my hands.”"

Hideki Matsuyama made eight birdies of his own on Saturday, and a bogey at the first hole cost him a share of the lead. The 22 year-old Matsuyama is the best Japanese player on the tour, and has six wins on the Japan Golf Tour to go along with his lone win at The Memorial last year.

When this kid learns to win on the PGA Tour, he has the game to become a legend. He leads the tournament in the new Strokes Gained Tee-To-Green stat, at 2.245 for the week, and a whopping 3.239 on Saturday.

Mr. Consistancy

The hottest player on the tour since the beginning of the 2014-2015 wrap season is 27 year-old Robert Streb. The Kansas State grad from Chickasha, Oklahoma didn’t have a great day on Saturday, but has not made a bogey during the first two rounds on Maui.

Streb only carded a four under 69 on Saturday, but because he hasn’t had any disastrous holes, has a share of fifth place. He joins Hoffman, Matsuyama, Patrick Reed, and Brendon Todd at one stroke back.

Next: 2015 Hyundai TOC Preview

Still Have a Chance

The one thing we have not had at the Kapalua Resort this week so far, is wind. If the wind starts to blow in this no-cut event, anything can happen, and probably will.

Sep 27, 2014; Gleneagles, Perthshire, SCT; American player Bubba Watson watches his shot on the 8th fairway during his fourball match on day two of the 2014 Ryder Cup at Gleneagles Resort – PGA Centenary Course. Mandatory Credit: Ian Rutherford-USA TODAY Sports

Bubba Watson came to Hawaii early, to get a jump on the week, but has not had a ton of success. With rounds of 70, and 69, the two-time Masters Champ is only four strokes off the lead, and with his distance off the tee, and his ability to shape shots to these huge greens, could make the deficit up quickly if the Trade Winds start to blow.

Bubba got on the bogey train late in his first round and remained there through the early part of Saturday’s round. He went bogey-free after the third hole, and with any wind, could quickly be back in this event.

We saw in 2012 how difficult this venue can be, with wind. It turned into a huge monster with teeth, and a big-hitter’s dream.

Jason Day has matched Bubba’s 70-69 start, and has played pretty well, but hasn’t had a lot of success on these huge, 8000 sq ft greens. He is still trying to overcome the only blemish on his scorecard that came with a double bogey seven he took at the par five 15th, on Friday.

The young Aussie is tied with Bubba, Ben Martin, and fellow Aussie, John Senden at seven under par.

Source: PGATour.com

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