18 holes With Zach Johnson, Presented by Transamerica
 
Zach Johnson was born in Iowa City, Iowa and raised in nearby Cedar Rapids. He sowed his golfing oats at Elmcrest Country Club and played college golf at nearby Drake University. Johnson turned professional in 1998 and started out playing the mini-tour circuits. In 2001, he won the final three regular-season tournaments on the NGA Hooters Tour, registering his first blip on the professional radar screen.

Two years later, Johnson led the money list on the Nationwide Tour, garnering PGA Tour status with a then-record total of $494,882 in earnings. Johnson won his first PGA Tour event in 2004, capturing the BellSouth Classic. In 2006, he qualified for the U.S. Ryder Cup team, finishing ninth on the Ryder Cup points list.

Johnson distinguished himself with a solid performance at The K Club in Ireland but ultimately finished with a 1–2–1 mark as the U.S. team suffered another lopsided defeat at the hands of the Europeans. Nonetheless, the hard-working Johnson, who turned 31 in February, appears to be a player on the rise in PGA Tour waters.

Zach and his wife, Kim, welcomed baby Will into their family in early January.

Each month, we’ll hear more from Zach about the game of golf, life on Tour and other topics.

Athlon Sports: How do you plan to juggle fatherhood and life on the PGA Tour?

Zach Johnson: I am sure it will be an adjustment at first, but one I am completely looking forward to, having Kim and Will with me each week. Kim and I travel to many tournaments in a RV. It is the closest thing to being at home as we cook our own food, sleep in our own bed and have many of the comforts of home. I am also a firm believer in developing a good routine, which I think helps greatly in managing time efficiently. 

AS: Will your family travel with you this season?

ZJ: Absolutely. Our first child, Will, was born in early January. Having the RV allows us to be together and live as normal an existence as possible on the PGA Tour. Kim runs the show and without her I am pretty much lost. Our traveling family includes Kim, Will and our Yorkie, Hogan.

AS: How will the FedExCup impact your schedule in 2007?

ZJ: I am not sure how or if it will impact my schedule. Being the first year of this new format, as players I think we are all taking a “wait and see” approach. I assume if I am close to certain point thresholds as the year progresses that I may increase the number of events I will play. At present, I am really unsure what impact the FedEX Cup will have on my schedule. 

AS: Do you have a favorite among the four major championships?

ZJ: I love and respect them all. I am partial to the US Open only because it is our nation’s tournament and seems to provide the stiffest course set-ups. I certainly enjoy the Masters and being able to walk the fairways that so many great champions have walked is amazing. The tradition at Augusta National is second to none in the United States. I appreciate the test of the British Open probably more than any other tournament. A player has to be on top of every aspect of his game to be successful with typically adverse conditions. All that being said, I think the PGA Championship might be best suited for my game and based on world rankings, it provides the best field in golf. 

AS: Other than a major, what tournament would you like to win most?

ZJ: There are probably two events I would most like to win besides a major. The first would be the John Deere Classic. It is as close to a hometown event as there is for me. They have been so supportive of my career when I was starting out, that it would be a great honor to one day win this event. Winning The Players Championship would be another because it has one of the best fields we will see all year. To win the Players, you know you have beaten the best players in the world on one of the game’s toughest golf courses.

AS: What will you remember most about your first Ryder Cup experience?

ZJ: I will most remember the camaraderie and the great friendships we developed as a team. Representing your country is the highest honor, and doing so in a team environment is incredibly special. From a playing standpoint, I guess the highlight I will always remember is the Saturday morning match. I teamed with Scott Verplank, made something like seven birdies and chipped in to win the match. A pretty incredible feeling to say the least!

AS: What players/personalities on the European Ryder Cup team did you find most interesting?

ZJ: Obviously, the Europeans have many great characters. The most interesting or compelling had to be Darren Clarke. He was playing in front of his home country and was just months removed from losing his wife to cancer. He played with great courage and was an inspiration to both teams.

AS: What was your impression of the golf fans in Ireland?

ZJ: They were great. They were very enthusiastic, knowledgeable and fair ... but don’t get me wrong, they were VERY partisan.

AS: Did you enjoy the non-golf part of the Ryder Cup experience — the dinners, the events, the media, etc. — or was that a distraction?

ZJ: There are tons of distractions associated with the Ryder Cup off the golf course. It seemed as if every minute of our time was accounted for and budgeted into a strict schedule. Captain Lehman did a terrific job of keeping us focused in the midst of all this. Although these activities were a distraction, Kim and I enjoyed every minute of it. Having our family with us at the Black Tie Gala and watching Van Morrison perform will be an unforgettable memory. 

AS: What is the strongest part of your game?

ZJ: I think the strongest part of my game is probably my competitiveness and the mental side. Typically I putt the ball pretty well and I am a good driver of the golf ball also.

AS: What is the weakest part of your game?

ZJ: Each year, my main goal is simply to keep improving. The past year I have been working hard on improving my sand play and trying to score better on the par 5’s.

AS: Do you work regularly with a swing coach? How has that person helped you the most?

ZJ: I work with Mike Bender, who is a former PGA Tour player. Mike has done so much for me both on and off the golf course. In addition to being my instructor, I rely on Mike as a mentor as well. He has so much experience and insight and plays a very integral role in my life.

AS: Describe the level of camaraderie among the players on Tour.

ZJ: Lives of PGA Tour players are very hectic and full of many demands. My free time seems to diminish each year and is replaced with obligations and requests for my time. As a result, players tend to travel and spend their free time with their families, which I suppose dampens the tour’s camaraderie.

AS: What are the biggest distractions on Tour?

ZJ: The travel can be tough. So much of our time is spent traveling from city to city, driving the RV, finding a place for the RV, etc. While there are many distractions, I would say travel is perhaps the greatest.

AS: Have you played with Tiger Woods? What’s he like on the course?

ZJ: I have played with Tiger and he is great to play with. On the course, he is more talkative than one might imagine, but he is truly the game’s best competitor. There is a lot to learn in watching Tiger make his way around a golf course.

AS: Who are your best friends on the PGA Tour?

ZJ: We are very close to the Cinks, Cranes, Byrds and Warrens among others. My best friends on tour seem to be the players whose wives are close to mine. Stewart (Cink) and I certainly have gotten to be very good friends.

AS: What’s the most pressure you’ve ever felt on a golf course?

ZJ: In my professional career, probably the putt I had on the 18th hole to win the BellSouth Classic for my first PGA Tour win. I was also pretty nervous when I hit my first shot at the Ryder Cup.

AS: Describe the importance of your relationship with your partners at AEGON/Transamerica?

ZJ: It is hard to sum up in words what my partnership with Aegon/Transamerica truly means to me. From the very beginning of our relationship, their dedication and commitment to my success has been unwavering. Their support and guidance have proved invaluable as my career has progressed. Knowing they are in my corner week in and week out gives me great confidence and peace of mind. Their support and help in the creation of our family’s charitable program, Birdies that Care, has been unbelievable and allowed us to do many great things for those less fortunate. They share and reflect my ideals and values and make Kim and I very proud to be a part of their team. We look forward to many more years together partnering to do great things!

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