Timing, as they say, is everything.
Richard S. Johnson shot back-to-back rounds of 66 last weekend to move from a tie for 26th into a share of seventh at the conclusion of the Valero Texas Open. His $98,291 in earnings couldn't have come at a better time, either.
The 26-year-old rookie appears to have secured his playing privileges for 2004 with the second top-10 of his PGA TOUR career. Johnson moved from 124th on the money list -- one inside the number of players that retain their cards -- to 111th with five full-field events remaining.
Johnson has played in 24 events this year and made the cut in all but 10. Three of those early exits, though, had come in the three events preceding the Valero Texas Open, so Johnson really came through when he needed it the most.
Johnson, who won the ANZ Championship on the European Tour in 2002, now has $532,445 in earnings. He earned nearly half that total when he finished third at the FedEx St. Jude Classic in June.
 | |
| Richard S. Johnson has two top-10 finishes on TOUR this season.(Getty Images) |
Prior to that time, unfulfilled by the relatively tame sports of tennis and handball, the Swede decided to start skateboarding. He quickly became good enough to compete in the Swedish Championships.
Skateboarding was not without its challenges, though. Johnson broke seven ribs, as well as his hand and a foot, while doing stunts.
Golf offered a much less dangerous alternative, and judging by his performance this year, Johnson has the grit and determination to have a long -- and safer -- career.
