Masters champion Johnson on a Sherwood high

By Mark Lamport-Stokes

THOUSAND OAKS, California (Reuters) - The experience of playing in this week's Target World Challenge has left Masters champion Zach Johnson on an unexpected high.

The 31-year-old American is competing for the first time in the elite 16-man event which is hosted by three-times winner and world number one Tiger Woods.

"They kind of call it the silly season," Johnson told reporters after firing a three-under-par 69 in Thursday's first round to lie one stroke behind leader Jim Furyk.

"If this is a silly tournament, then we've got to recheck our tournament protocol because this is as good as it gets as far as I'm concerned."

The $5.75 million Target World Challenge, first held in 1999, is one of several events in the so-called "silly" season that take place after the PGA Tour winds down.

"This week just feels like another week," Johnson added. "It's just nice being in twosomes with 16 guys.

"The purse is phenomenal and the sponsors here, they've made it into a PGA Tour event. It's almost like a World Golf Championships (event) without a full field. It's awesome."

LAST-DAY CHARGE