Johnson Wagner trying for Texas two-step in Crowne Plaza Invitational at Colonial

From WorldGolf.com News Services

One PGA Tour victory in Texas this year might not be enough for Johnson Wagner.

At least that's how it appeared Thursday as the 2008 Shell Houston Open champion carded a 7-under-par 63 for a two-stroke lead over Phil Mickelson and Brett Wetterich in the Crowne Plaza Invitational at Colonial Country Club. Wagner's 63 was just one shot shy of the first-round record in the event set by Patrick Sheehan in 2005.

Not even bogeys on Nos. 8 and 10 could bring Wagner down. He responded with three consecutive birdies, had five birdies on the back nine and nine birdies in his round in breezy conditions that included wind gusts of up to 35 mph.

"I should be playing better now that I'm a winner," Wagner told reporters. "I'm just more comfortable, more confident, having more fun, not letting bogeys bother me or doubles bother me.
"At the beginning of the year, I would have gotten real frustrated and down."

Thursday's performance marked only the ninth round in the 60s that Wagner has carded in 44 rounds on the PGA Tour this year. It also gave him his third 18-hole lead or co-lead of his career.

Prior to winning the Shell Houston Open, Wagner had missed six consecutive cuts after tying for 38th place in his season debut at the Bob Hope Chrysler Classic. Leading up to the Houston event, he had recorded 78th- and 64th-place finishes.

"I was really kind of at rock bottom and kind of recommitted myself to my coach," Wagner said. "Everything kind of clicked in Houston."

After collecting his first PGA Tour victory, Wagner ended 36th in the Masters and 27th in the EDS Byron Nelson Championship. Prior to this start in Fort Worth, Texas, Wagner missed the cut in the Wachovia Championship and tied for 54th in The Players Championship.

Phil Mickelson and Brett Wetterich shot 5-under 65 to head into Friday's second round tied for second place. The two players led the field in greens in regulation Thursday, hitting 16 of 18 (88.89 percent).

Mickelson, the 2000 tournament winner, was making his first appearance at Colonial since 2005 and said he battled the wind throughout his round.

"The strength of the wind made it challenging, but also the inconsistency of it," Mickelson told reporters. "It wasn't blowing consistently, and that made it difficult, because it was tough to judge. I almost knocked it into the water on 13 and my playing partner who hit the same club hit it over."

Glen Day shot 66 and is alone in fourth place. A group of eight is tied for fifth.

However, the entire field must now chase Wagner, a Texas native gunning for his second victory in the past two months in the Lone Star State.

"I love playing here," Johnson said. "I'm from Amarillo, so it's always nice to come home. I like playing in the wind, especially if I'm hitting the ball solidly.

"I just hit it in the fairway a lot, hit a lot of greens, had a lot of good looks at birdie, and mistakes were minimal."

May 23, 2008