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Out of the ordinary

Diligence takes middle-of-the-road golfer Zach Johnon to the state of being a champion.

2008 Masters Preview

Sunday, April 6, 2008

Winning combination

In the search for answers about what turned Zach Johnson from a PGA Tour wannabe into a major champion, one ingredient came up the most consistently: his wife, Kim.

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Johnson's disciplined approach to par-5s pays off

Zach Johnson was standing in the middle of the par-5 13th fairway with a 4-iron in his hand. He had only 196 yards to reach the green. He was locked in a four-way tie for the lead on Sunday at the Masters -- a substantial fact that Johnson was intentionally unaware of at the time.

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Masters champion's success is a team effort

Last year, Zach Johnson rattled off a list of names after winning the Masters Tournament. Even if you're unfamiliar with those names, you know their work: Mr. Johnson's golf swing, putt and pace.

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Success to golfer isn't in winning, but glorifying God

Discovery Church serves a nondenominational Christian congregation in the heart of Orlando, Fla.

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Silent backers cheer on their champ

They were lost in the crowd standing under the bleachers behind the 18th green at Sugarloaf -- just a handful of men among hundreds straining to get a view of the PGA Tour rookie capping his first career victory.

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Hawkeye pride

Long before Zach Johnson won the 2007 Masters Tournament, Iowa produced the 31st U.S. president, the inventors of the gas-powered washing machine and the paper clip, the first Heisman Trophy winner and a field of dreams.

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Zach facts

Rank has always had its privileges at the Masters Tournament -- at least until Zach Johnson came along.

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Firm, fast course yields high score, new champ

Starting in 2002, when nearly 300 yards were added to Augusta National Golf Club, a question was asked repeatedly during Masters Tournament practice rounds:

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Cabrera learns 'easy does it' can do it

One of Angel Cabrera's friends believes the strongman won last summer's U.S. Open because he was "relaxed in his mind."

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British Open win keeps Harrington's fire stoked

It was three weeks after the British Open when Padraig Harrington resurfaced from a celebratory sabbatical to play the World Golf Championships at Firestone.

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Tiger's PGA win ignited ferocious run

Even Tiger Woods was frustrated.

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Lefty brings new swing, plans to 'pull a Palmer'

It was just a casual exchange, but it made Phil Mickelson look up from the row of autograph seekers at Doral Golf Resort & Spa.

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Careers appear to move in step

You can search the list of world-class golfers and find no player with a greater appreciation for what Zach Johnson has accomplished than Vaughn Taylor.

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Missed putts stay in Taylor's mind

It was the kind of pressure Vaughn Taylor never felt before. Not when he was winning two times on the PGA Tour, and not when he was playing in the 2006 Ryder Cup in Ireland.

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Howell tries new tactics for Masters

Charles Howell is crazy about the Masters Tournament, but he's not insane.

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There's more than one Tiger in field

While most eyes will be focused on a different Tiger, a pair of Clemson University representatives are just happy to get back into the Masters Tournament footlights.

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Masters yet to see Stricker's best

Since regaining his game in 2006 and starting a climb up the world rankings, Steve Stricker has done just about everything to show he's a world-class player.

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Masters trip was far from Flesch's mind last season

If there was a star of the PGA Tour's B-movies in 2007, it was Steve Flesch.

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More than a cut above?

Fred Couples' consecutive cut streak at the Masters Tournament was in danger last year.

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Furyk makes regaining edge on greens a priority

Jim Furyk has been one of the best putters on the PGA Tour for years. He even led the tour in putting in 1995.

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O'Hair is past days of 'shock and awe'

Sean O'Hair is undeniably young. He is 25 years old and one of only four Americans under 30 with multiple PGA Tour wins.

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Austin's strategy is simple: Just let it rip

A month ago, Woody Austin made a special trip to play Augusta National Golf Club. He wanted to see the changes made since his lone Masters Tournament appearance in 1996.

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Masters is amateur's swan song

It's not unusual for an amateur to play in the Masters Tournament and then turn pro, making it his last amateur event. Brandt Snedeker did it in 2004, and Richie Ramsey followed suit last year.

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Distance is no issue for young bombers

Bubba Watson and J.B. Holmes might be the most-watched rookies in the 2008 Masters Tournament.

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Chopra gets message, invitation

When he noticed his caddie wearing a "Masters hat" during the final round of January's Mercedes Championships, Daniel Chopra thought the choice might be significant.

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Win is on Australia's horizon

It's supposed to happen one day. An Australian is going to win the Masters Tournament.

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2007 missteps leave Appleby sure-footed

Stuart Appleby isn't dwelling on the what-ifs. He prefers to focus on what's ahead.

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Casey is eager to enjoy course's magic again

It isn't listed among the record rounds at Augusta National Golf Club, but under the circumstances it was enough to impress the best golfer in the world.

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Els' life makes golf seem easy

Life has been anything but easy for Ernie Els.

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Goosen wants change to pay off

Retief Goosen hasn't been quite the same since he tied for second place in last year's Masters Tournament.

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Safety in putting

The belly putter that nearly carried Sergio Garcia to victory in last summer's British Open is out of the Spaniard's bag now.

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Singh is trying to get back in swing

The numbers say Vijay Singh had another strong season in 2007. He won twice, was third on the PGA Tour money list and finished in the top 20 in the Masters Tournament for the eighth consecutive year.

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Korean studies major

K.J. Choi is as ready as he's ever been to carry the expectations of a continent on his shoulders.

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Cover story unfolds

Ian Poulter feels some regret.

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Healthy Weir ready to create more Augusta memories

Mike Weir's health and golf game are back in good shape, in that order.

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German charges into tournament

German wunderkind Martin Kaymer heads the short list of late qualifiers for the 2008 Masters Tournament.

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Sabbatini says he's ready to walk the talk

It's an unfair comparison, but Rory Sabbatini has to live with it.

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Rose knows he must close the deal

In only three Masters Tournaments, Justin Rose has collected a wealth of experience.

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Winning by the book

The Masters Tournament is played under the Rules of Golf, which are administered by the U.S. Golf Association and the Royal & Ancient Golf Club.

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They all look good in green

Mark O'Meara has never been known for his brash predictions, but he made one to his caddie as he prepared to play the final two holes.

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50 years on, the shouting hasn't stopped

The year 1958 was eventful at the Masters Tournament.

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History runs through it

Rae's Creek winds through the National at Amen Corner, the famous stretch of holes that is often instrumental in deciding the Masters winner. The creek flows in front of the 12th green and behind the 11th green. A tributary runs up the left side of the 13th fairway and in front of the greens.

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Pacemakers

Two-time Masters champion Ben Crenshaw says the pace of the putt is the most important factor on Augusta National greens. Pace is an internal calculation golfers make using several factors.

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Balls for All

Abundant and instantly recognizable, the classic golf ball bears few surprises. It is mostly white and dynamically dimpled, with any internal variations usually discernible only by the maker's mark on its tough hide. The golf ball has historically been a small-and-spherical crucible for innovation and, in some cases, individualism.

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History Lesson

Bobby Jones, one of the most prominent athletes of the 1920s, decided to retire from competitive golf in 1930 after winning all four major championships in the same season for his Grand Slam.

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Obituaries

Gay Brewer Jr., who bounced back from a playoff loss to win the 1967 Masters Tournament, died in 2007.

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Fans Guide

Cellular phones, portable radios and televisions, walkie-talkies, audible beepers and other electronic devices are not allowed on the grounds at any time.

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Masters records

The Masters tournament by the numbers.

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Masters champions

List of Masters winners from 1934 to 2007.

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British Open facts

The winner of the oldest of golf's four majors, the Open Championship, is presented with the silver Claret Jug, but when the tournament began in 1860, the prize was the Challenge Belt. The top four finishers in the Open, plus ties, qualify for the Masters Tournament. The British Open winner gets a five-year exemption to the Masters.

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