Big Play with T.J Tomasi

WHO: ZachJohnson

WHAT: 20-yard chipto six inches for the winning par

WHERE: 465-yardpar-4 18th hole at Augusta National

WHEN: Final roundof the Masters

WHY

It's no surprisethat Johnson, ranked 162nd in driving distance, won the green jacket. Augustawas so hard and fast that driving accuracy and the short game--both strengthsof Johnson's--became more important than length. Johnson laid up on every par-5but still played those holes in 11 under, which led the field. His scramblingskills were invaluable, especially on the 72nd hole, where he stiffed adeadhanded chip to seal the win.

T.J.'S TIP

To Control theRoll, Go Deadhanded

To take the spinand chance out of short chips, hit them deadhanded, like a putt. Johnson didthat at 18 by playing the ball back in his stance and keeping his hands andarms quiet. (He didn't cock his wrists or bend his arms.) He maintained a firmtriangle between his arms and shoulders while rotating back and through. Topractice this technique, hit chip shots with a soda bottle wedged between yourarms.

T.J. Tomasiteaches at Nantucket (Mass.) Golf Club.

... AND ANOTHERTHING

"I wish TigerWoods would go back to his Butch Harmon swing, which was less dependent ontiming and more reliable, especially with the driver."

GOLF MAGAZINE

TOP 100

TEACHERS POLL

Is the Mastersdiminished when Augusta National plays as hard as it did last week?

Yes... 29%
No... 71%

"The Masters has been all about exciting golf, not grind-it-out golf. Let Augusta be Augusta."
--Bruce Patterson, Butler National Golf Club

First-ShotMaker

Last week ArnoldPalmer, 77, became the seventh ceremonial starter in Masters history. Here arethe men who have held that position.

¬†	Résumé	Years
Jock Hutchison Only two Masters finishes (1935 and '41); the best, 43rd	2 majors	1963--73
Fred McLeod Died a month after hitting final shot at Augusta; best finish, 50th	9 wins / 1 major	1963--76
Gene Sarazen Died a month after hitting final shot at Augusta	39 wins / 7 majors	1981--99
Byron Nelson Bridge on the 13th at Augusta named after him	52 wins / 5 majors	1981--01
Ken Venturi As amateur, finished 2nd in '56; if he had won, wouldn't have turned pro	14 wins / 1 major	1983
Sam Snead Died a month after hitting final shot at Augusta	82 wins / 7 majors	1984--02
Arnold Palmer Airport in Latrobe, Pa., named after him	62 wins/ 7 majors	2007--

ELEVEN PHOTOS

COURTESY OF CBS (JOHNSON); ERICK W. RASCO (BACKGROUND; TOMASI, 2); BETTMANN/CORBIS (HUTCHISON); AP (MCLEOD, VENTURI); MICHAEL O'BRYON (SARAZEN); ROBERTO SCHMIDT/AFP/GETTY IMAGES (NELSON); SIMON BRUTY (SNEAD, PALMER)