Different strokes for Johnson, Goydos have same result

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Dustin Johnson (left) and Paul Goydos are tied for the lead heading into the final round at Pebble Beach.

PEBBLE BEACH, Calif. -- Jack Lemmon and Walter Matthau used to frequent these famous links on the serene and scenic Monterey Peninsula years ago during Bing Crosby's annual clambake.

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On Sunday, though, the game's current version of "The Odd Couple" can be found in the final pairing of the AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am.

Dustin Johnson and Paul Goydos, who are separated by 20 years, 6 inches in height and nearly 40 yards of driving distance, have taken on the starring roles. Both trend more toward Oscar Madison than the fastidious Felix Unger, but there's a contrast just the same.

Sunday's prize isn't an Oscar or an Emmy, though. Johnson and Goydos are seeking the third victories of their divergent PGA TOUR careers, along with 500 FedExCup points and a cool $1.116 million to put in the bank.

While their paths have crossed at breakfast in the player dining room a time or two, two men have never played golf together. That said, Johnson's reputation precedes him. Simply put, the 25-year-old hits his driver a long, long way, while Goydos relies on accuracy off the tee.

"Just two different ways of going about the same thing," shrugged Goydos, who hasn't made a bogey in his last 41 holes.

"His game is definitely a little bit different than mine, and he finds a way to get it done," Johnson agreed. "In golf, that's what you've got to do. It doesn't matter how far you hit it or where you hit it, you've just got to find a way to get it in the hole.

"Whoever can get it in the hole tomorrow is gonna come out with the victory."

Johnson, who was 2 years old when Goydos turned pro, will hit driver on all but one par 5 and three par 4s at Pebble Beach. So it will be up to Goydos to set the tone on the greens, where he twice approach shots inside 2 feet for birdie on Saturday.

"We actually don't play the player, we play the course," Goydos said when asked about the intimidation factor of a man who is averaging 305.4 yards this week to his 256.8.

"I fully panic," he quipped before turning serious. "It is what it is. ... I don't know if 'ignore' is the right word, but you appreciate. Dustin Johnson is a wonderful player and he's been playing real well and he's defending champion.

"I'm gonna appreciate his play, but you go out and play your game, too. You know, I have to do things differently than he does, and he's got to do things differently than I do."

So could the 6-foot-4 Johnson actually find himself frustrated and intimidated by someone who plays the game so differently but comes up with the same result?

"Oh, yeah. That's happening every day," Goydos said with the trademark self-depracating humor he acknowledge he uses to motivate himself.

Goydos, who grew up down the California coast in Long Beach, would be the first to tell you there's a talent differential on the PGA TOUR. Tiger Woods isn't the No. 1 player in the game for no reason, after all. Goydos' key is that the shorter the tournament becomes the better his odds are.

"That's not necessarily a negative," Goydos said. "To say that Tiger or Phil or Sergio is better than me is not a real big surprise to anyone in this room.

"But on a given day or on any given week or to some extent any given year, different things can happen. And that doesn't mean I'm trying any less or have any different expectations than they're gonna have standing on the first tee. It's just reality."

But Sunday's reality is that Goydos has as good a chance to win the 25th anniversary AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am as Johnson does. And neither can ask for anything more.