Zach Johnson surges up Masters leaderboard with stunning 66

2007 champion Zach Johnson turns back the clock with a brilliant third-round 66 at Augusta, entering the final day in contention.

Masters champion Zach Johnson of the United States lines up a putt on the ninth green during the third round of the Masters at Augusta National Golf Club on April 12, 2025. Photo by Logan Whitton/Getty Images

By Anna Fadiah and Hayu Andini

Zach Johnson surged up the Masters leaderboard with a stunning six-under-par 66 in Saturday’s third round, putting the 2007 champion back into contention and showcasing vintage form at Augusta National. The 49-year-old veteran, who barely made the cut on Friday, put together one of the most remarkable rounds of the day to finish 54 holes at four-under-par 212, just four strokes behind the leaders.

Playing in his 20th Masters, Johnson showed a level of composure, accuracy, and putting brilliance that brought echoes of his triumphs in the past. With two majors already under his belt—his iconic 2007 Masters victory and the 2015 Open Championship at St. Andrews—Johnson demonstrated that, despite a lack of recent titles, he still has the skill and fire to compete with the best.

A masterful start sets the tone

The tone for Johnson’s round was set early, as he stepped up to the par-five second hole and calmly drained a 41-foot eagle putt that ignited his surge. That eagle moved him back to even par for the tournament and gave him the momentum to build on a round that would become one of the weekend's biggest stories.

Though he faltered slightly with a bogey at the par-three sixth, where he chipped over the green, Johnson recovered swiftly. He buried an eight-foot birdie at the ninth, followed by a 10-foot birdie at the 10th, pushing him deeper into red numbers and establishing his place among the day’s most aggressive climbers on the leaderboard.

Amen Corner magic and birdie blitz

As Johnson entered Augusta’s famed Amen Corner, he showed no signs of slowing down. At the treacherous par-three 12th, he drilled a 13-foot birdie putt, mastering a hole that has dashed many contenders’ hopes. On the next hole, the par-five 13th, his approach landed two feet from the hole, setting up another simple birdie.

The veteran continued to impress at the 15th, with an approach to three feet, and again at the 16th, nearly holing out with a tee shot that settled just inches from the cup. Both led to tap-in birdies and pushed him even closer to the leaders.

Although he bogeyed the 17th after a bunker misstep and closed with a par on 18, Johnson walked off the course four-under for the tournament and very much in the mix for a Sunday showdown. His round of 66 marked one of the lowest of the day and was a strong reminder of what he is still capable of when everything clicks.

Rediscovering form at Augusta

“Today was an extreme example of the fruits of my labor showing up,” Johnson told reporters after his round. “I’ve seen the work and the results of hitting the face and seeing the line on putts. It just hasn’t showed up in the results—until today.”

There was a sense of serenity in Johnson’s tone as he reflected on the round. “I don’t know if today is a flash, but today was, for lack of a better term, a stroll in the park. I didn’t feel like it was work... man, I was in control.”

Such control has been rare in recent years for Johnson, who has not lifted a trophy since his Open Championship win a decade ago. His time since then has included struggles with form and fitness, and most recently, a disappointing turn as the captain of the 2023 US Ryder Cup team, which suffered a painful loss to Europe in Rome.

Yet Augusta National seems to have reignited something in him.

“This place can bring out the absolute best in someone,” Johnson said. “When you’re engulfed by the magnolias, something just hits you.”

One round, one dream, and a familiar course

Johnson was quick to acknowledge that Saturday’s success is just one part of a four-day marathon. Still, the round has reinvigorated his joy and confidence on a course where he once made history.

“When you’re playing on some place you love and you’re familiar with, when these green jackets want you here, you want to play good,” he said. “It’s just icing on the cake if you do.”

He added with a smile, “It’s not like I’m playing that much. I don’t hit the ball far enough to compete on some of these venues, but it doesn’t mean I can’t have a decent finish. It doesn’t mean I can’t make cuts. It doesn’t mean I can’t still do it.”

Indeed, few players in their late 40s are seen as serious threats in a field increasingly dominated by power hitters and youth. But Johnson’s round on Saturday was a timely reminder that precision, course management, and heart can still carry a player a long way—especially at Augusta, where experience is often the X-factor.

A place in history, a path to glory?

Should Johnson go on to win on Sunday, he would become the second-oldest major champion in history, just behind Phil Mickelson, who famously won the PGA Championship at age 50 in 2021. He would also join a very exclusive club of golfers with multiple major titles at two of the sport’s most revered venues: Augusta National and St. Andrews.

It’s a feat achieved by only the greatest names in golf—Woods, Nicklaus, Faldo, Snead, and Ballesteros—and it would mark a spectacular late-career flourish for one of golf’s most respected professionals.

For now, Johnson remains measured. The leaderboard is stacked with talented players, including Justin Rose, Rory McIlroy, Bryson DeChambeau, and Corey Conners, all of whom are capable of explosive final rounds. But Johnson’s experience, calm demeanor, and rediscovered form make him a compelling figure heading into Masters Sunday.

Augusta National always delivers drama on Sunday. Whether it’s a runaway victory or a sudden-death playoff, the final day of the Masters is where legends are made. And as Zach Johnson prepares for that final test, he’ll do so with the confidence of a champion who has been there before.

He may not be the biggest hitter, nor the most talked-about contender, but what he brings is something often more important on Sunday at Augusta: patience, precision, and a steady belief that with the right mix of skill and heart, magic is still possible.

And in a week where the magnolias are in bloom and memories are being made, Zach Johnson may just find himself walking into Masters folklore once again.