Big hitters favoured at TPC San Antonio - Johnson

Zach Johnson - Cropped

Zach Johnson said TPC San Antonio suits the big hitters, ahead of the PGA Tour's Texas Open, starting Thursday.

Johnson, a two-time champion of the event, heads to Texas in solid form, after tying for ninth at the Arnold Palmer Invitational - his fourth top-10 finish in nine US tour events this season.

The 2007 Masters champion's Texas Open wins came at former host venue - the Resort Course at La Cantera Golf Club - but Johnson said he is also suited to TPC San Antonio, where Australian Steven Bowditch returns as defending champion.

"There's been some minor changes here and there but you've got to hit it straight and rely on your putter and I like that," Johnson said. 

"Obviously this tournament has changed venues, but I like what this golf course demands now.

"Totally different than the previous, this one's certainly very difficult. 

"I think it's a ball striker's course where you've just got to keep the ball in front of you, keep the course in front of you. 

"You can't force the issue here and I remember hitting it well last year and not putting great and still climbing into the top 10. 

"I do remember it being one where I hit it really good for four days and that was enough to sustain a decent finish."

Johnson has played the Texas Open twice since his back-to-back wins in 2008 and 2009 - missing the cut in 2010 after an opening-round 80, before returning from a four-year absence to finish tied for sixth in 2014.

The 11-time PGA Tour winner said he felt he was in ominous form returning to Texas, as he narrowly avoided the cut at the Arnold Palmer before storming up the leaderboard after a 68-66 weekend.

"I was caught on the outside looking in on Friday and managed to make a couple of birdies the last three holes on the back nine, to make the cut on the number," Johnson said of his tournament at the Bay Hill Club and Lodge. 

"I had a good day on the Saturday, a pretty clean card that day, four birdies and I shot four under. 

"Then Sunday was a rollercoaster, fitting for Orlando I guess. 

"Certainly way more positives, but it was a day of capitalising on opportunities and missed opportunities. 

"I don't really know how to describe it. 

"It was a day I've never had. It could have been really, really, really low, really low."

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