Zach Johnson has taken a one-stroke lead in his debut at the PGA Tour Champions event, the James Hardie Pro Football Hall of Fame Invitational, after shooting a bogey-free 66 in the second round. The former Open Championship winner, who turned 50 last month, stands at 8-under par entering the final round. A victory would mark his first win in over a decade.
Zach Johnson, fresh off his 50th birthday on February 24, made an impressive start to his PGA Tour Champions career at the James Hardie Pro Football Hall of Fame Invitational held at Old Broken Sound in Boca Raton, Florida. In the second round on Saturday, he carded a bogey-free 66, following an opening 70 to reach 8-under 136 overall. This score gives him a one-stroke advantage over Steven Allen and George McNeill, the latter in just his second Champions Tour appearance.
Johnson's round included an eagle on the par-5 10th hole, part of a three-hole stretch where he played 4 under par. His performance matched the day's low round, shared with Padraig Harrington. Reflecting on the competitive nature of the senior tour, Johnson said, “The golf is still competitive. It's still hard. It's still all you want.”
A win on Sunday would make Johnson the 22nd player to triumph in his Champions Tour debut and the fourth-youngest winner in its history at 50 years and 12 days old. It would also end a winless streak dating back to his 2015 Open Championship victory, spanning 10 years, 7 months, and 16 days. Despite some physical challenges associated with turning 50, Johnson noted the help of therapists in managing discomfort. “I've got to say that the therapists I've had the last two or three days have really done a great job. I'm feeling 50 plus; we'll just say that,” he remarked, adding that he used a cart for a few holes but felt more pain-free than expected.
Looking ahead to the final round, Johnson plans to rely on his established strengths. “I'm going to lean on the fact that what's gotten me to this point is still there, and that's all I'm going to go by,” he said.
