KAPALUA, Maui » On a golf course where Zach Johnson might be voted least likely to succeed, the little guy charged to victory Monday in the Hyundai Tournament of Champions.

In an era where mauling courses is the norm, the 160-pound Johnson pitches them apart. That is precisely what he did to Kapalua’s massive Plantation Course, closing with a 66 to finish at 19-under-par 273.

It was a shot better than 20-year-old wunderkind Jordan Spieth. His 100-foot-plus eagle putt to tie, from off the green on the final hole, came up 10 feet short.

"That’s probably a 1-out-of-50 putt there," said Spieth, the 2013 Rookie of the Year. "It did exactly what I thought it would do. I just thought it would be a little faster speed-wise."

The rest of the imposing winners-only field wasn’t that close despite a swarm of birdies.

From the moment he finessed his first wedge into the second hole Monday, Johnson played large and in charge. A bunch of beautiful wedges later, he had secured his 11th PGA Tour victory and third win in his past six starts — the last coming when he chased down Tiger Woods.

Johnson won $1.14 million Monday and $4 million last year, and now he has tamed Kapalua. Before this year he had one top 10 here in six tries — a sixth in 2009, the same year he won Sony.

Johnson, the 2007 Masters champ, also heated up his reputation as the world’s hottest golfer. Woods is the only one with as many wins before age 40.

"Those are the kind of things that are out of my control," said Johnson, who turns 38 next month and will try to win his second Sony Open in Hawaii later this week. "So I’m going to try to control what I can control. And that is keeping my game simple and just keep doing what I’m doing.

"But I never would have thought that. I don’t have dreams of that caliber. I don’t dwell on that kind of thing. I just try to play and try to get better, because God knows I can get better at this game, too."

World Golf Hall of Famer Ben Crenshaw, who designed the Plantation, called Johnson "the best wedge player out here" after his first 66 gave him the second-round lead.

He proved it on the Plantation. The world’s ninth-ranked golfer hit every fairway Monday, then launched approach shots within 11 feet eight times — not counting the chip-in. Johnson was a measly 6 under on the supposedly critical par 5s, but when you can hit a wedge that close, who cares?

A hiccup of a 74 Sunday — he and Stuart Appleby are the only ones to shoot over par and win here — put him two back going into the final round, but also in his comfort zone.

Johnson has come back to win eight times. He likes being the underdog and has somehow found the secret to simplifying an incredibly complicated game with practice, patience, a treasured "team" and an abundance of faith.

"I’m comfortable there (chasing)," he said. "I don’t mind having to do that. I hope there is an opportunity where I have a significant-shot lead that I can maintain at some point, because that hasn’t happened very often. I think my first win I had a lead, and I think I only won by a shot. So the one thing my wife continues to say is ‘Why can’t you just make it easier on us?’

"Sorry, honey, but it’s just hard. There are too many good players out here."

Johnson is nothing if not a realist.

"The last two tournaments I beat 17 guys and 29 guys, so a little perspective there, too," Johnson said. "Not full-field tournaments, but also some of the creme de la creme, so to speak, too.

"I definitely feel like I’ve put myself in a place that is a little foreign to me. Some of the numbers I’m not exactly comfortable with or have never been to, meaning top 10 in the world, that kind of thing. But I’m also a realist. I know this game at some point could beat me up again. So I’ve just got to keep doing what I’m doing. Try to keep things very simple."

Spieth came closest to matching his simplicity, turning in his second bogey-free round. He figured 20 under would win it, but came up a birdie short on both sides. He still earned the 10th top 10 of his remarkable year-long career.

"I just waited too long," said Spieth, who hit two approaches to the top of the hill on the par-5 15th, only to have them roll back down. "I mean, I was very pleased with the finish, being able to birdie the last two holes and at least have somewhat of a chance on 18 there. But, ultimately, 14, 15, 16 really kind of hit me hard."

Webb Simpson and defending champion Dustin Johnson, who both shared the third-round lead with Spieth, failed to make a charge after two early bogeys. All three are ranked among the top 25 in the world.

Simpson (70) tied Kevin Streelman (67) for third, two back. A late double-bogey dropped PGA Champion Jason Dufner (69) into fifth. Billy Horschel was the only one who could match Zach Johnson’s Monday score and tied for sixth with Matt Kuchar, Adam Scott and Dustin Johnson — who had 33 putts — at 278.

Zach Johnson was one behind Spieth at the turn. His fourth birdie gave him a share of first and three more at Nos. 14, 15 and 16 sealed it.

"I felt like the back nine today was not any different than my back nine on Friday," Johnson insisted. "I felt very natural, felt very comfortable. I felt at peace out there. There was nothing more than just hitting shots. It felt great."