'07 Masters to go down as true David vs. Goliath story

When it was all over, and the coveted Green Jacket was slipped on his slender shoulders on a chilly Sunday evening at Augusta National, Zach Johnson tried to grasp the enormity of what he had just accomplished. After all, this was no ordinary win. This was the Masters, and he had just defeated the best players in the world, including Tiger Woods.

By T.J. Auclair, PGATOUR.com Interactive Producer

AUGUSTA, Ga. -- When Arnold Palmer struck the first shot as the honorary starter to kick off the 71st edition of the Masters last Thursday, few would have guessed that defending champion Phil Mickelson would be helping Zach Johnson slip into a coveted Green Jacket on Sunday evening.

But that's precisely what happened, meaning Johnson will never bear the dreaded title best-player-never-to-have-won-a-major.

In a Masters that lacked drama -- just as it lacked birdies and eagles -- until the very end because of treacherous and cold conditions throughout, Johnson became the first Masters winner since Nick Faldo in 1990 not to come from the final pairing. That's pretty special considering Tiger Woods was a part of the final pairing on Sunday. At 1 over par, the 31-year-old Johnson joined some heady company with Sam Snead and Jackie Burke Jr. as just the third man in Masters history to win with a score over par.

"I don't even know what I shot," said Johnson, who for the record shot a 3-under-par 69, "but I know that I had a lot of people giving me some good words of wisdom over the last week. I felt like there was certainly another power that was walking with me and guiding me. So that's where things stand. I just feel very blessed and very honored."

Woods, who entered the final round one shot behind 54-hole leader Stuart Appleby, still has yet to come from behind to win a major. Although he couldn't put one of his patent charges together on Sunday, Woods said he let the tournament get away before the final round.

"This one's not disappointing," he said. "I threw this tournament away on two days when I had two good rounds and I went bogey, bogey. So four bogeys in the last two holes basically cost me the tournament."

Prior to this Masters, Johnson had missed the cut seven times in 11 majors and his lone PGA TOUR win came in 2004 at what is now the AT&T Championship, which is also played in the Peach State.

With the likes of no less than Woods, Appleby and Retief Goosen trying to hunt him down, Johnson's first major victory will forever be remembered for the way he negotiated the back nine on Sunday with a 2-under-par 34. He played Amen Corner in 1 under par with two pars and a birdie at No. 13. Then he added birdies on Nos. 14 and 16, as well as a remarkable up-and-down from the front of the green for a par at the last.

"I don't know if I've ever beat him -- well I haven't beaten him many times -- period. But on this stage, certainly never," said Johnson of Woods. "I really didn't know what was going on. I knew if I just kept doing what I was doing, staying in the present and putting well, I had a chance.

"My caddie, Damon Green, was the one looking at the board and keeping his eye on things. From the fans I could kind of tell that I was close to the lead, if not in the lead. I didn't know where we stood even after 14, but after 15 he said, 'We've got a couple-shot lead.' And I was able to still execute. You know, I guess ignorance is bliss sometimes. I really felt like I just tried to maintain my focus, maintain my game plan, and fortunately it came out that way."

Just five years ago Johnson was playing on mini tours. In 2003, he earned Player of the Year honors on the Nationwide Tour, followed by his first win on the PGA TOUR in 2004 as a rookie. After steady play but no wins in 2005 and 2006, Johnson was one of four unheralded rookies to qualify for the 2006 U.S. Ryder Cup team at the K Club in Ireland. While the Americans were thumped by the Europeans, Johnson had a very respectable maiden showing, going 1-2-1.

"Somewhere along the way he [Johnson] got it into another gear," Johnson's fellow Ryder Cup rookie and Augusta native Vaughn Taylor said. "His attitude is one of the best out here. His aura, outlook on life. Tiger has an amazing record in majors. It's nice to see him give one up. If [Johnson's] not Superman, who is he? Superman's brother?"

When he heard about Taylor's description, Johnson laughed and said, "I'm Zach Johnson and I'm from Cedar Rapids, Iowa. That's about it. I'm a normal guy."

As much of a surprise as his win at Augusta National was, perhaps it shouldn't have been a surprise at all. Maybe it was his natural progression -- the next step in a fighter's career.

"He's a big-time grinder," Taylor said of Johnson. "At the Ryder Cup he showed a lot of guts and he did today, too. He does a lot of things right."

Who knew that Johnson would be the player to deny Tiger Woods a fifth Green Jacket and end a run at three-straight majors?

Apparently not him. Johnson said he was aware of the Tiger challenge and was lucky to win. So when it was all over, did Johnson feel like he was David defeating Goliath?

"Absolutely. Absolutely," he said. "That's a good comparison."