Johnson tries to repeat magical Masters at US Open

OAKMONT, Pennsylvania, June 13 (Reuters) Zach Johnson, who donned the green jacket after a magical Masters, hopes his skill with the putter will do the trick again at the US Open starting tomorrow.

''Speed-wise, very, very similar,'' Johnson told reporters yesterday comparing the pace of Oakmont's undulating greens to those at Augusta National. ''They are very, very fast.'' Johnson stuck to his game plan of laying up at Augusta's par-five holes and relied on his wedges to give him birdie opportunities. He held off Tiger Woods down the stretch to capture his first major and second career PGA victory.

The flat stick will be of utmost importance again at Oakmont.

''It's going to be a speed test, and one where you're going to have to make a lot of three and four and five-footers for comebacks,'' the soft-spoken, 31-year-old American said. ''It's going to be a remarkable test.'' Johnson executed his strategy in the Masters, posting the best score in the field over the par-fives, with 11 birdies and no bogeys.

The quiet Iowan will not be able to use the same approach this week, since the par-70 Oakmont layout has only two par-five holes, the 609-yard fourth and the mammoth 12th, which can play as long as 667 yards depending on the tee used.

''Number 12, that's the epitome of a par five. It's so hard,'' Johnson said. ''If you make a five there all four days, I think you're going to be better than the average of the field.'' Johnson backed up his Masters triumph with a victory in the AT&T Classic outside Atlanta.

''I think Atlanta, certainly for me, spoke volumes, and it just gave me the reassurance that Augusta certainly was not a fluke,'' he said.

Reuters AKD VP0450