Johnson settles for tie of lead after hot start in Las Vegas

2008-10-17

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LAS VEGAS (TICKER) —Zach Johnson remained red-hot Thursday, firing a 10-under-par 62 in the first round of the $4.1 million Shriners Hospitals for Children Open.

Fresh off winning the Valero Open, Johnson made it look as though he may be ready to cash another first-place check following a brilliant bogey-free round that included five straight birdies at one point.

However, the 32-year-old had to settle for a share of the lead after Marc Turnesa finished his round with three birdies over his last four holes.

Johnson started his round on the back nine with consecutive birdies, then added two more at Nos. 14 and 16.

On the front side, Johnson was near-flawless, carding five consecutive birdies starting with the par-4 first hole. He put an exclamation point on his round with his final birdie at the par-5 ninth.

Despite his strong round, Johnson termed it “boring.”

“Yeah, I probably should have expanded on that,” he said. “I feel boring golf is one where you hit the ball on the fairway, hit the ball on the green, and give yourself a chance at birdie.

“So it was boring as far as that goes. I hit a lot of fairways. I missed one on seven just because I just hit it too far. I don’t think I’ve ever said that. Then I think I missed a fairway on 11, but that was it.”

The 2007 Masters champion, Johnson had his sizzling start matched by Turnesa, who picked up birdies on five of his first seven holes after also beginning at No. 10.

Overall, Turnesa took a great first step towards reversing a rough stretch, ending up with 10 birdies without a bogey.

“Any time you think there’s something special going on you usually go the other way,” Turnesa said when asked the significance of his round. “I’m just trying to make a lot of birdies, because it’s going to take a lot under par to win this tournament.”

Prior to this week, Turnesa had failed to make the cut in six of his previous eight tournaments.

The one bright spot during that span for Turnesa was a second-place finish at the Viking Classic last month. He had been leading after three rounds before losing in a playoff.

“I had a great week at the Viking there and came up short,” Turnesa said. “It was disappointing not to win, but, you know, it was still a good week. You know, I’d like to win out here.

“That’s what every guy out here is trying to do. That would be the dream come true if I could win out here. I think I can do it. It’s just a matter of getting it done.”

The duo hold a one-shot lead over a group of four golfers, including Ken Duke.

Duke finished up with seven birdies and a eagle for a 63, putting him even with Matt Kuchar, Nick Watney and Michael Allen.

Four others are two shots back, including Australian Nick Flanagan.

Flanagan was torching the TPC Summerlin course with nine birdies before having to settle for a bogey on the ninth - his final hole.

Chez Reavie, Kevin Na and John Mallinger are also at 8-under.

Hunter Mahan and Chad Campbell, members of the U.S. Ryder Cup, are in a group of nine golfers at 7-under 65.

Defending champion George McNeill is five shots back following a 67.

First prize is $738,000.