Zach Johnson jumps to front of pack at Valero Texas Open

SAN ANTONIO — Zach Johnson won his first two PGA TOUR starts in the Valero Texas Open. Then in 2010, they changed the course on him, moving the tournament venue from La Cantera — where he owned a share of the course-record 60 — to TPC San Antonio 20 miles east. Understandably, Johnson had his reservations. His first round at the new AT&T Oaks course was an 8-over 80. He missed the cut the next day. Then the tournament changed its schedule, moving from May to April. It was all too much, so Johnson skipped the next three years. “I wasn’t particularly fond of the place,â€� he said. Then he started hearing about the tweaks being made on the Greg Norman-designed course. “Softening and changes and massaging,â€� he said. He was intrigued. So he returned in 2014, shot four rounds at par or better, and tied for sixth. He’s been back ever since. Friday was his 18th career round at TPC San Antonio. It was also his most productive — a 7-under 65 that included six birdies and an eagle from the greenside bunker at the par-4 fifth. At 9-under through two rounds, he owns a share of the lead with Ryan Moore, three shots clear of the field. Asked if there are any similarities between La Cantera and TPC San Antonio, Johnson smiled. “The only similarity is that they’re probably within 30 miles,â€� he said. “Well, that’s not a similarity, that’s just a fact. … It’s certainly not the test this is. This is a much difficult test.â€� Jonathan Byrd, who not only is Johnson’s good friend but his partner in next week’s team format at the Zurich Classic of New Orleans, isn’t surprised that Johnson has come to embrace TPC San Antonio. “This is a great golf course for him,â€� Byrd said. “He drives the ball so well. It’s a first-shot golf course. If you drive it well and put it in position, it really sets up the golf course – and he’s been hitting it well. It’s a course you can be really aggressive if you’re on.â€� Johnson was certainly aggressive at the drivable fifth, playing at 325 yards Friday. He went straight at the pin, knowing that even if he found the bunker, he’d have an uphill lie into the wind. He figured he could blast out to inside 3 feet. Instead, the ball ran into the cup for eagle. That’s his second eagle of the week. In fact, in his last 22 holes played, he’s 12-under. That’s great momentum entering the weekend as he chases his third Valero Texas Open … but his first on this course. NOTABLES Ryan Moore missed just two fairways and three greens in shooting a 5-under 67 that left him tied for the lead. In fact, he’s missed just three fairways all week — pretty good under windy conditions. “My distance control has been green and really my ball-striking’s been really nice the last few weeks,â€� Moore said. “The putter just kind of hasn’t been cooperating.â€� It did on the sixth and 17th holes Friday when he rolled in birdie putts from outside 14 feet. David Hearn has made nearly 190 feet of putts in the first two rounds. His longest was a 37-footer for birdie at the par-4 17th, the first of two consecutive birdies to wrap up his 68. “Went back to my old long putter, cut an inch-and-a-half off it, and it seems to be working right now,â€� Hearn said. “We’ll see what we can do on the weekend.â€� Martin Laird reeled off five consecutive birdies after the turn Friday. His 30 coming in — he played the front nine after starting his round off the 10th tee — gives him a share of the nine-hole record at TPC San Antonio. By the way, he already owns a share of the course record 63, which he shot in 2013 while winning the Valero Texas Open. QUOTABLES “The confidence is there, and when you can step on the tee with this kind of wind, you trust your clubs and trust your ball, that’s pretty important.â€�“This course produces great ballstriker champions. You look at Kevin Chappell, Kevin Tway played great here last year, he’s a great ballstriker, Charley Hoffman. These guys are great ballstrikers because it’s very penal outside the fairway and the greens tend to shed the ball away.â€� Note: This file will be updated after play ends in Friday’s second round, so please check back.

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