Author: By Ryan Kartchner
Zach Johnson didn’t go to Cabo to fish, but he reeled in the biggest check of his career with a stellar win at the Taylormade Invitational. Held on the Ocean Course and Desert Course at Cabo Del Sol. The Ocean course is a Jack Nicklaus Signature design and #1 in all of Latin America. The Desert Course is a Tom Weiskopf Signature Design and #17 in Latin America. Zach opened with a course record 63 on the Desert Course. He then followed up with a 64 on the ocean course the following day. With a 69 in his third round, Zach took a 1 shot lead into the final round on the Ocean course. Zach didn’t have his best stuff throughout the most part of the final round. When he stood on the 15th tee, he was 2 back. After going birdie, par he was on #17, one shot back. He then hit his tee shot on the par 3 to about 5 feet and made the putt to tie the lead. Zach hit his 3 wood on 18 down the middle and hit his approach to about 22 feet of the pin. He calmly stood over the putt and drained it for a one shot win, a final round score of 68 (-24 for the event) and first place check of $35,000. Zach stayed aggressive, making up 3 shots in the final 4 holes to win by 1. He was absolutely amazing in closing out that tournament. Zach never backed down, even from that last putt that he could have easily lagged up there and took his chances in the playoff. Instead he drained the putt and didn’t even think about the $15,000 difference between 1st and 2nd. With an amazingly strong field of club pros as well as past and present tour players, this was a great win for Zach. You can see the results and a picture of Zach getting his trophy from PGA Tour announcer Gary McCord at www.taylormadeinvitational.com . Congratulations to Zach on his victory and representation of our section. We now have 2 of the last 3 winners of this event from Utah. Chris Moody is the other one from 2010. Chris finished tied for 8th which cashed a check of about $7000.