Zach Johnson wins Crowne Plaza Invitational at Colonial

Zach Johnson coped well with two late rain delays to win the Crowne Plaza Invitational at Colonial by three shots from England’s Brian Davis.

Zach Johnson

Zach Johnson coped well with two late rain delays to win the Crowne Plaza Invitational at Colonial by three shots from England's Brian Davis.

The 2007 Masters Champion got off to a great start in the final round, birdying the first two holes to close the gap on Davis and Bryce Molder. Further birdies at the 10th, 12th and 13th took him into the lead.

Johnson had just played his tee shot into the rough on the 15th when the players were called off the course because of the risk of lightning. When they returned, 45 minutes later, Johnson fired his approach to the 15th on to the green then holed the putt.

Although he had to come off again before playing the 18th, a further birdie at the 17th had virtually secured the victory.

Davis finished as runner-up again, six weeks after calling a penalty on himself in a playoff against Jim Furyk at Hilton Head.

"Zach won the tournament, I didn't lose it," Davis said. "It was a weird feeling walking up 18 knowing you can't win."

Ben Crane finished in a tie for third with Jeff Overton while Byrce Molder slipped back into a tie for fifth with Scott Verplank.

It was a seventh PGA Tour victory for Johnson and his first since winning in San Antonio last May. Johnson joins Phil Mickelson as the only players to have recorded PGA Tour victories in each of the last four seasons: 2007-10.

US Ryder Cup Captain Corey Pavin had an excellent week to finish in a tie for seventh with Ricky Barnes.

Crowne Plaza Invitational at Colonial Colonial CC, Fort Worth, Texas May 27-30, purse $6,200,000, par 70

1    Zach Johnson (USA)    65    66    64    64    259    $1,116,000 2    Brian Davis (Eng)        64    65    65    68    262    $669,600 T3    Ben Crane (USA)        68    64    64    67    263    $359,600 T3    Jeff Overton (USA)    63    67    66    67    263    $359,600 T5    Bryce Molder (USA)    65    62    67    70    264    $235,600 T5    Scott Verplank (USA)    67    66    66    65    264    $235,600 T7    Ricky Barnes (USA)    66    66    67    66    265    $199,950 T7    Corey Pavin (USA)    67    64    67    67    265    $199,950 9    Boo Weekley (USA)    67    63    67    69    266    $179,800 T10    Martin Laird (Sco)    69    67    66    65    267    $155,000 T10    Pat Perez (USA)        69    68    63    67    267    $155,000 T10    Bo Van Pelt (USA)    67    66    65    69    267    $155,000

Note: Player score in bold signifies Titleist ball usage only

Fergus Bisset
Contributing Editor

Fergus is Golf Monthly's resident expert on the history of the game and has written extensively on that subject. He is a golf obsessive and 1-handicapper. Growing up in the North East of Scotland, golf runs through his veins and his passion for the sport was bolstered during his time at St Andrews university studying history. He went on to earn a post graduate diploma from the London School of Journalism. Fergus has worked for Golf Monthly since 2004 and has written two books on the game; "Great Golf Debates" together with Jezz Ellwood of Golf Monthly and the history section of "The Ultimate Golf Book" together with Neil Tappin , also of Golf Monthly. 

Fergus once shanked a ball from just over Granny Clark's Wynd on the 18th of the Old Course that struck the St Andrews Golf Club and rebounded into the Valley of Sin, from where he saved par. Who says there's no golfing god?