AUGUSTA, Ga. — Prior to Saturday’s third round, Zach Johnson had not broken 70 at Augusta National since the final round in 2015, when he shot a Sunday 68 to tie for ninth. Almost a decade later, the now 49-year-old dialed up a masterclass on moving day, shooting a six-under 66, a score he didn’t even come that close to posting when he won this tournament back in 2007.
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Of course, the weather was a little different that week. It’s near-perfect conditions at this Masters, but Johnson’s round is still wildly impressive. This golf course is too long for him now. He shouldn’t even be making cuts here anymore. Yet after barely making the cut at two over, he vaulted up the leader board with six birdies, an eagle and just two bogeys to finish the day at four under. As of now, that’s still good for T-10.
Afterward, Johnson went full Will Ferrell, AKA Frank, in the classic comedy “Old School” when a reporter asked him if he stepped into a time machine on Saturday.
“What happened? I just blacked out,” Johnson joked.
If you know, you know.
Johnson did expound further. And he didn’t sound like a man rushing to get to the senior tour when he turns 50 next February.
“No, I appreciate it. I appreciate that,” he said. “I don’t want to say I’ve seen it coming because that’s not what I’m trying to — I’ve seen the work and the results of hitting the face and seeing the line on putts. Not this week, but weeks prior I’ve seen it.
“It just hasn’t showed. My hope is that it continues to show, one, but two, I’ve always modeled my game after guys before me and guys that are consistent. I don’t know if today is a flash, but today was, for lack of a better term, a stroll in the park. I didn’t feel like it was work.”
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He also mentioned that being paired with a player like Jon Rahm may have spurred him on. As did making the weekend at all, something he’s only done once in the last four years here.
The vibes were immaculate.
“I love the pairing. I loved making the weekend. I guess it’s been a couple years. I think I made it two years ago, so it’s not like it’s that foreign. But man, I was in control.”
In other words, he did black out, but unlike Frank the Tank in that debate with James Carville, he was well aware it was happening.
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