Johnson wins in Atlanta

ATLANTA – Masters champion Zach Johnson won a sudden-death playoff over Japan’s Ryuji Imada to claim victory in the Atlanta Classic in Duluth, Georgia on Sunday.

The pair finished the four-day event 15-under-par (273), with Johnson firing an impressive round of 67 (five under) on Sunday while Imada needed a birdie on the 18th to force the playoff. The 20-year-old Imada, whose previous best tour result was fifth, had looked in trouble on the par-five final hole when he overhit his second through the green, but he scrambled home with a superb chip that left him with a simple putt.The pair returned to the 18th for the playoff but this time there would be no great escape for Imada.The Japanese landed in the rough from the tee and then found water with his second.Johnson kept his cool to birdie the hole and take the title.Johnson said he was reaping the rewards of practice and steady improvement.”I’ve gotten better and better every year.Maybe not statistically, maybe not money-wise, maybe not world rankings-wise, but I know I’ve gotten better and better every year,” he said.”I’ve learned both on and off the golf course.”All three of Johnson’s PGA tour wins have come in the state of Georgia, he won the Atalanta classic in 2004 and in April he claimed the 2007 Masters in Augusta.Nampa-ReutersThe 20-year-old Imada, whose previous best tour result was fifth, had looked in trouble on the par-five final hole when he overhit his second through the green, but he scrambled home with a superb chip that left him with a simple putt.The pair returned to the 18th for the playoff but this time there would be no great escape for Imada.The Japanese landed in the rough from the tee and then found water with his second.Johnson kept his cool to birdie the hole and take the title.Johnson said he was reaping the rewards of practice and steady improvement.”I’ve gotten better and better every year.Maybe not statistically, maybe not money-wise, maybe not world rankings-wise, but I know I’ve gotten better and better every year,” he said.”I’ve learned both on and off the golf course.”All three of Johnson’s PGA tour wins have come in the state of Georgia, he won the Atalanta classic in 2004 and in April he claimed the 2007 Masters in Augusta.Nampa-Reuters