Johnson highlights key to Lytham success
July 20, 2012 08:12:12 UK
Adam Scott is the Open leader after the first 18 holes.Zach Johnson believes he must keep his errors to a minimum if he is to stand a chance of adding to his Masters title at the Open Championship over the next three days.
Johnson carried on where he left off at last weekend's John Deere Classic by posting a five-under 67 to sit one stroke behind Australian Adam Scott after the first round at Royal Lytham.
The 2007 Masters champion's display included seven birdies and just two bogeys but he knows that any wayward shots will be punished severely and believes that hitting the ball straight is the key to victory this weekend.
Johnson is 126.00 to emerge victorious at Royal Lytham while Scott can be backed at 3.00, Tiger Woods at 251.00 and Lee Westwood at 201.00.
Johnson told Reuters: "Quality shots. That's really all you can do here. I feel it's one of those tournaments where if you hit bad shots it's usually a bad result.
"My whole philosophy this week is avoiding those fairway bunkers and hitting solid shots because I'm putting fine.
"For the most part there's a lot of momentum coming from last week. But I've forgotten about it.
My whole philosophy this week is avoiding those fairway bunkers and hitting solid shots because I'm putting fine.
Zach Johnson
"Obviously I played well here but it's just one day. I'm going to grab those positive feelings I had last week. But for the most part a new week, completely different elements, completely different golf course."
Two strokes further back from Johnson after the opening day is US Ryder Cup colleague Bubba Watson and the big-hitting Masters champion is relishing the challenge that awaits him over the next three days.
Watson said: "I'm like a kid, I like to be creative and hit shots. Over here, playing with your buddies, you can hit all the shots you want to.
"But playing in a major championship you've got to play a lot smarter and I'm not very good at playing smarter."
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