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Golf Masters’ Champion Thanks Christ for Easter Win

By Gudrun Schultz

AUGUSTA, Georgia, April 10, 2007 (LifeSiteNews.com) - The surprise winner of the top U.S. golf championship credited Jesus Christ in interviews following his Easter Sunday victory at the Masters’ Golf Tournament in Georgia.

Zach Johnson beat out Tiger Woods to win the prestigious Masters’ prize, the coveted green jacket, at the Augusta National Golf Club on April 8. The 31-year-old Iowan emerged from the background to grab a surprise victory, finishing with one-over-par 289 in a 72-hole total.

“This being Easter, Jesus was with me every step. I felt Him. It was awesome,” Johnson told CBS in an interview near the 18th green.

“Today was a day of perseverance and patience, I guess. I just feel very blessed and very honored.”

Johnson, who describes himself as “just a normal guy,” from Cedar Rapids, Iowa, is married and has a three-month-old son.

“My Christian faith is very important to me,” Johnson said. “It was very special to win the Masters golf tournament on Easter Sunday. I am very blessed. I would like to thank God. I felt Jesus Christ with me on the golf course every step of the way.”

“Being Easter, my goal was to glorify God and hopefully I did that today,” he said, crediting PGA Tour chaplain Larry Moody, of Search Ministry, for the weekly Bible study that Johnson said allowed him to remain peaceful during the final round, reported the Baptist Press April 9.

“On the 18th green, seeing my wife and our new baby, my parents and brother, I started to get emotional,” Johnson said. “I tried to stay in the moment and just started praying.”

He has spoke openly about his faith in God before, sharing his personal faith testimony at the 2006 annual Masters Prayer Breakfast at Warren Baptist Church in Augusta. A regular participant in the annual charitable John Deere Classic golf tournament Birdies for Charity, in Iowa state, Johnson has said his Masters’ win will not interfere with his attendance at this year’s event.

See Masters’ official interview with Zach Johnson:
http://www.masters.org/en_US/news/interviews/2007-04-08/200704091176164402781.ht...

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