Kevin

Johnson

Johnson started off the season with a T-39 at the Sony Open, but since then he has missed the cut in four of his last five tournaments.

The tournament reserved the final tee time for the winner of The Masters. Phil Mickelson elected to take the week off, giving Johnson a surprise start. KJ is a Clemson product and played Harbour Town once more, missing the cut in 2001. This year, he’s cashed in three of nine starts, but has yet to record a top 35.

KJ’s season has been terrible to date, making just one of six cuts and ranking 211th in the Web.com Tour money list. With just two weeks remaining before the top 75 on the money list earn a spot in the four-tournament playoff for a PGA TOUR card, he better figure out a way to scare some leaderboards and do it quickly. He missed the cut here last year.

The veteran has been out of action since withdrawing before his second round of the Frys.com Open with a sore back. At 214th on the money list, he will need a victory next week to retain his PGA TOUR card.

A difficult season for Johnson got more difficult last week last week when he was forced to withdraw from the Frys.com Open due to a sore back. With one event left on the season, expect Johnson to try to retain his playing privileges for next season via Q-School.

Playing the easier and shorter Palm Course, KJ hit 15 greens and took 29 putts, circling five birdies along the way. He had withdrawn before his second round of the Frys.com Open on Oct. 15 due to a sore back, and then pulled out early from the JT Shriners. Given that he entered the week 214th in earnings, he needs to win this week to retain status on the PGA TOUR.

He was scheduled to tee off at 8:40 a.m. local time. KJ has had a difficult season, entering the week ranked 212th on the money list after having cashed in just five of 25 starts with no top-35 paydays. He opened the Frys.com with a 5-over-par 41-35=76. Johnson might try again next week at the Timberlake Open, where he hasn’t teed it up since missing the cut in 2001.

It’s been a very tough year for Johnson , with only three made cuts in 15 starts on this year’s Tour.