Anticipation becomes happy reality for leader Johnson

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HONOLULU -- For Zach Johnson, it's an important distinction.

Badz/PGA TOUR

Zach Johnson is taking full advantage of Waialae's two par 5s.

Inside the Numbers

Johnson thru 54 Holes

Category Total Rank Eagles 2 T1 Birdies 11 T22 Pars 36 T34 Bogeys 5 T57 Double Bogeys 0 N/A Other 0 N/A Driving Accuracy 71.4% T3 Driving Distance 287.3 yds. 32 Greens in Regulation 74.1% T5 Putts per Round 28.7 T28 Putts per GIR 1.725 T13 Sand Saves 100.0% T1

He anticipated playing well as he opened the 2009 season in Hawaii. But at the same time, he doesn't like to place expectations on himself.

"If anything, I had a good outlook on '09, great outlook, with where my game was and the direction it was going, and certainly the work I've put in to get to this point," Johnson said. "I anticipated playing well over here. Anticipation versus expectation I think is a little bit different. I anticipated hitting it solidly. I anticipated hitting quality shots, and hopefully scoring, and my short game has come along nicely."

Anticipation became reality as Johnson tied for sixth last week at the Mercedes-Benz Championship, where he shot 15 under. He's in an even better position, though, as he anticipates the final round of the Sony Open in Hawaii -- owning sole possession of the lead at 10 under after shooting 66 on Saturday.

"He's obviously playing well," said Nathan Green, who is tied for second with David Toms, Shigeki Maruyama and Brian Gay, one stroke off the pace. "He's had an extra week of experience to sort of get the rust out, so he sort of looks like he's firing on all cylinders now. Such a great player and he's going to be tough to beat."

Johnson didn't make a bogey on Saturday. In the first three rounds, he's taken full advantage of Waialae Country Club's two par 5s -- playing them in 7 under, including a pair of eagles on the 514-yard ninth. Only the 18th on Saturday was uncooperative when he missed an 11-footer for birdie.

"This is a course here, if you get the ball in the fairway, you know, and putt decent, you're going to score well, because you're not hitting terribly long iron shots," Johnson said. "There's a few holes, 1 and 13, that are pretty gnarly, but outside of that, it's a scorable course."

Johnson, who is tied for third in hitting those tight fairways and fifth in reaching the greens, came to Maui refreshed last week after a skiing vacation. He also credits his solid play to a new set of Titlest AP2 irons he put into his bag last week. Prior to that, his lower mid-irons were different than his upper ones, but now he has a set that works at all distances.

"I think they are a little bit (more) consistent as far as trajectory and spin, which is great," Johnson said. "It's just a matter of technology and getting better and better, and certainly Titleist putting the right ball with the right club in my hand, essentially what it comes down to.

"I've always driven it pretty straight, but my driver is getting better and starting to get a little bit longer, I think, and less spin, anyway. I think that's been a key component. ... I had a hodgepodge of the set previous. ... Now I'm straight AP2s because of the shot and spin rate I'm putting out. It's been fantastic."

Johnson will be the hunted on Sunday, with 12 players within three shots of his lead. The 2007 Masters champ knows he'll need to be hitting on all cylinders to hold them off and win for the fifth time in his PGA TOUR career.

"One shot, one errant shot can be a matter of a two- or three-shot swing," Johnson said. "So out here, it's just, you know, it didn't really matter. I think that's the beauty of this course. It doesn't surprise me it's congested, and the guy that sticks to his own and makes some putts tomorrow is probably going to come out on top."