Zach Johnson has never been embarrassed in his eight previous trips to Firestone Country Club, except perhaps for that dreaded snowman at No. 9 in 2007.
That was an untimely blunder, coming when he was tied for the third-round lead with Rory Sabbatini.
The 4 strokes Johnson gave away at the par-4 became half of his 8-stroke deficit as he tied for 11th behind winner Tiger Woods.
Trying to remember Tuesday, Johnson actually thought he took a 9 on No. 9.
But there are more satisfying moments than disasters. Johnson has tied for 16th or better five times on the South Course, with his best a tie for sixth last year, and has been out of the top 25 only twice.
That bodes well for Johnson this week in the $8.5 million World Golf Championships Bridgestone Invitational.
He's third on the tour money list with earnings of more than $4 million, about $700,000 away from his best season on the PGA Tour. In a span of two months, he won twice, capturing the Crowne Plaza Invitational at Colonial and the John Deere Classic. He's tied for third with six top-10 finishes (in 18 events).
"I feel like I've played pretty well here every year," Johnson said. "I'm always right there, but I can't quite get over it here."
Johnson said his good showings might have some-thing to do with the fact that he grew up in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, playing similar courses.
"This is always a tournament that I come into and feel very comfortable," he said. "To me it's Midwest golf. It's the same type of golf I grew up playing.
There are no homes, there's thick rough, and you have to hit every shot, you've got to hit it left to right or right to left. Fairways are a premium, you know, they're not very big here. Bentgrass greens, that's what I grew up on, and I love it.
"I've really never played horrible here. I've never played fantastic here. So hopefully I can ride the momentum from last year into this year and certainly the previous couple weeks."
