‘Boring’ beautiful for co-leader Johnson

For Zach Johnson, nothing is better than being boring on the golf course.

Hit your drive into the fairway. Knock your ball onto the green. Hole out your putt and move on.

It might not be the most glamorous formula, but it was the most effective way Thursday as Johnson lit up TPC Summerlin with a 10-under-par 62 to grab a share of the first-round lead of the Justin Timberlake Shriners Hospitals for Children Open with Marc Turnesa.

Turnesa had the afternoon's big round, birdieing three of his final four holes and playing bogey-free golf in posting a 62.

Mike Allen, Matt Kuchar, Ken Duke and Nick Watney all finished at 9-under 63 to trail by one stroke. Kevin Na, John Mallinger, Chez Reavie and Nick Flanagan all came in at 64 entering today's second round.

Defending champion George McNeill played well, shooting a 67. But he has work to do in his attempt to repeat.

"All in all, it was a pretty boring round," said Johnson, the 2007 Masters champion who is looking to win back-to-back tournaments after capturing the Valero Texas Open last week in San Antonio. "I don't think I used my 3-wood all day."

Golfers gave credit for the low scores to the weather conditions, with temperatures in the mid-80s with no wind, and the excellent greens.

"It was like playing inside a warm gymnasium," said Allen, a former UNR star. "You know you have to make birdies here, and I was able to roll in some 10-foot putts."

Watney, who moved to Henderson in August to be closer to golf guru Butch Harmon, was one of those in the afternoon session to make a big run. He had eight birdies and an eagle at the par-5 16th to put himself in contention. His lone stumble came early in the round when he made bogey at the par-4 fourth hole.

"I knew there was a lot of time left after I made bogey at four," said Watney, who played the four longest holes at 5 under. "I knew I had to shoot low and I was going to get some opportunities."

This is a big week for Watney, who is 117th on the Tour's money list with earnings of $788,440. The top 125 will keep their cards for 2009, so he needs to be around for the weekend to solidify his spot above the cut line.

He sought out Harmon earlier in the week, and the two had an impromptu session to try to bolster Watney's chances.

"I hadn't seen Butch in about two months, so we had a nice little session on the (practice) range trying to get my backswing wider," Watney said. "We worked hard on my putting also. It's been by far the weakest part of my game this year. Butch took a look at that, and I putted great (Thursday). But I need to keep working on that, for sure."

While Watney was making his charge, Johnson and Turnesa were the talk of the course.

Turnesa, who needed just 24 putts to complete his round, said a hot putter is a golfer's best friend.

"To be honest, I wasn't feeling great coming here," he said. "I came here with no expectations whatsoever. The greens were kinda beat up, but you just read it as if they were perfect and hope the ball doesn't bounce on you."

Turnesa said he had no idea he was having a lights-out round.

"I was just trying to making birdies," he said. "Anytime you think there's something special going on, it goes the other way."

Johnson knew he had a special round going while playing early in the morning. He could have shot a 60 or lower had he not wasted a couple of opportunities late in his round when he didn't cash in on birdie chances at the par-4 No. 7 or the par-3 No. 8.

"Yeah, seven and eight were frustrating," Johnson said. You get hot. You're in a good rhythm. I hit it close each time and had an opportunity."

But Johnson was not complaining about his round. Bogey-free, smart golf that yields double digits under par is the kind of day every Tour pro dreams about. Even if it is done in less-than-spectacular fashion.

"I'll take boring for three more days," Johnson said.

Contact reporter Steve Carp at scarp@ reviewjournal.com or 702-387-2913.