• Crowne Plaza Invitational, Round Four

Johnson produces putting master class to deny Davis

ESPN staff
May 30, 2010
Zach Johnson produced the three biggest putts of the day © Getty Images
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Brian Davis failed to clinch his first PGA Tour title after he was outgunned by American Zach Johnson, who broke the course record to clinch the Crowne Plaza Invitational on Sunday.

Johnson shrugged off two weather delays to card a final round 64, which saw him complete the 72 holes in just 259 shots. That figure breaks the previous marker left by Kenny Perry, who hit 261 in 2003 and 2005.

Davis, ranked 117 in the world, led by a single stroke at the turn but eventually finished three shots off the pace after a final round of 68. The Briton's overall score of 18-under-par fell marginally short under the intensity of Johnson's laser-like accuracy around the greens and he was forced to settle for second position.

Davis has grabbed more headlines than most in the golfing world this year, largely thanks to his act of honesty at Hilton Head, when he cost himself a previous chance of PGA glory by admitting a foul in a play-off against Jim Furyk. This time Davis was merely beaten by the better player, with Johnson producing a match-winning final round.

Entering the last day with a share of the lead, Davis immediately marked his intentions with birdies at the first, second, sixth and seventh. However, he bogeyed the fifth and Johnson simply was not making any mistakes.

The American produced the three longest putts of the day to card seven birdies in total, including a 23ft putt at the 15th that came directly after a rain delay of 50 minutes. Another stunning effort hit the middle of the hole at 17, setting up Johnson's seventh victory on the PGA Tour.

Jeff Overton and Ben Crane tied for third one stroke behind Davis, while also in close attendance was Bryce Molder who, having begun the day with a share of the lead, only managed a even-par round of 70 after bogeys on 16 and 17 to fall away from the leaderboard's summit. Molder was joined by Scott Verplank in a tie for fifth.

England's Paul Casey enjoyed yet another solid round as he went four-under for the third time in the tournament. Only his second-round 70 damaged a real assault on the title, and an overall score of 12-under was enough to secure a tie for 13th with a host of other players including KJ Choi. Scot Martin Laird finished equal 10th on 13-under.

Justin Rose and Ian Poulter both ended their weekends in disappointing fashion, failing to break par for the tournament. Rose carded his second 70 of the week to finish on even-par, while Poulter produced a disastrous eight on the par-four 18th to finish seven-over-par.

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