11/05/24
April 09, 2007
Meet the Golfer Who Kept Tiger Woods Out of His Fifth Green Jacket: In 2002, Zach Johnson won the Hooters Tour tournament in Tulsa, Okla. "I thought that was the best days of my life right there. Chicken wings and everything."
I am probably a hater, but I thought his I'm just a regular guy routine was a bit much. Nothing regular about playing golf for a living, really, nothing at all. Congrats to him anyway.
posted by bperk at 10:52 AM on April 09, 2007
There's nothing regular about what Johnson did on the back nine. When Woods eagled to pull within two with five holes to play, Johnson heard the roar and had three holes left. I didn't think he could hold up to that pressure. I wouldn't be surprised if this guy has another major in him.
posted by rcade at 11:18 AM on April 09, 2007
Yeah, that's gotta be a bad feeling...leading the tournament (not just the Masters, but any tournament), last day, back nine, when all of a sudden...the roar. From somewhere over in that direction. Say, isn't that about where Tiger's playing? Oh, shit. Johnson heard the roar, and still held it together and won the green jacket. Good for him. Hey rcade, betcha five bucks the kid never wins another major!
posted by The_Black_Hand at 11:27 AM on April 09, 2007
He had the steely nerves for sure - but he looks to me to be along the lines of a Mike Weir - his game just can't compete with the more dominant players. He needs to have absolutely everything going right for him (drive, iron, chip, putt) to have a chance. He putted like a champion, for sure. The real stars this weekend were the greenskeepers, any way. That was a ridiculous course. I honestly think of all the tournaments, this weekend was the one where it didn't matter that he heard Tiger's roar. Players were trying to hit safe shots on all but 3 holes on the whole course. It's not like Johnson had the option of eagling the 15th because he knew Tiger was breathing down his neck. He had to play it the same regardless.
posted by WeedyMcSmokey at 12:36 PM on April 09, 2007
Jesus won, but that's no surprise - that guy could get up and down out of the ball washers - Jesus must be closing in on Nicklaus' record faster than Tiger now, is he? I get that Tiger's a threat - and that he's never lost a major that he lead going into the final round - but there is one reasonably telling statistic about his major career (or am I lazy/confused/both? Maybe it's just his Masters career) that says he has never won one that he wasn't leading going into the final round. If anyone looked scared of the challenge, it was him I thought. He has never made a last minute Nicklaus-esque charge in a major, and he didn't look likely to last night. It did make me laugh as he came up the last though how the commentators (on the BBC) still hadn't ruled out the possibility of him holing his second shot - in fact, by the time he got over the ball, even I was beginning to think "could he?" ZJ is a Ben Curtis - he kept his head while those around him lost theirs (the role that Tiger usually plays on the last day at Augusta). He won by clinging on better than anyone else did. His putting action is just a horror to look at (that bent left wrist made me throw up in my mouth a little bit), but it's obviously hot when it's hot. Good for him, but I find it hard to get excited by the result.
posted by JJ at 12:47 PM on April 09, 2007
It was my impression that yesterday was bound to be a first for Tiger: either the first time he came from behind to win a major on the final day, or the first time he lost a major when playing in the final grouping on Sunday. I tried to find an article to back that up, but I have as yet been unsuccessful. That Jesus is one heck of a multi-sport athlete. It's small wonder they named a religion after him.
posted by The Crafty Sousepaw at 12:59 PM on April 09, 2007
I have no problem with a christian man crediting Jesus profusely on Easter Sunday.
posted by Bill Lumbergh at 01:59 PM on April 09, 2007
I'm still waiting for the day a Muslim says "Praise Allah" on national TV. The wailing and gnashing of teeth would be deafening.
posted by jmd82 at 02:02 PM on April 09, 2007
Muhammad Ali.
posted by Bill Lumbergh at 02:18 PM on April 09, 2007
I think it was one of the better Masters I have seen in a long time. At the start of the day maybe 10 players or more had a legit chance to win it. I never knew Augusta could be that tough. With the dry conditions and the wind and the new rough and length it was like a US open. I always wondered why Zach Johnson hasn't won more tournaments. His last year on the Nationwide tour he won every other event. Watch his results don't watch his mechanics. Not exactly the grace of Freddie or the big easy when he swings. He is a good golfer with an unorthodox chop swing. I guess every golfer has their own quirks. Tiger when playing badly always has some excuse, it is never his fault. Its the course setup, the wind, his caddie, the photographers, cold weather, etc. When he hit that bad shot on 17 into the sand he was blaming his caddie. I loved to see him on the 18th tee. You could see that look on his face. He knew he had no chance of winning and it was killing him. I am glad someone else won. I don't think the media was. With them it is always Tiger played poorly. How about ZJ played better not Tiger played poorly. Everyone talks about how ZJ is a normal regular guy. I am okay with that but whats with the crying? Everytime they interviewed ZJ all week long he would cry. Maybe they should of gave him some green panties instead of a green jacket. I don't think ZJ will end up like Shaun Micheel or Ben Curtis. I think he now has a great weight lifted and the pressure is off. He has built some confidence. I think he will win more majors in the future no doubt.
posted by jayzee at 02:57 PM on April 09, 2007
Good for him, but I find it hard to get excited by the result. Why? Tiger played well enough to win, but somebody else took it from him after so many other times the rest of the field crumbled under that pressure. The lead changed hands throughout the day and some big names were in contention. This seems to me like a Masters that will be remembered because of the legend who got beat, just like Ben Hogan losing the U.S. Open to Jack Fleck, rather than one that's forgetten because of a little-known winner. The story of how Fleck was playing with Hogan clubs, newly made, with wedges hand-delivered by Hogan himself before the event, is great. Hey rcade, betcha five bucks the kid never wins another major! Deal. If he never wins one, I will pay up promptly.
posted by rcade at 03:06 PM on April 09, 2007
I'm still waiting for the day a Muslim says "Praise Allah" on national TV. The wailing and gnashing of teeth would be deafening. Mike Tyson.
posted by tommybiden at 03:23 PM on April 09, 2007
Everyone talks about how ZJ is a normal regular guy. I am okay with that but whats with the crying? Everytime they interviewed ZJ all week long he would cry. Maybe they should of gave him some green panties instead of a green jacket. You saying real men don't cry? Hmmm, someone tell Michael Jordan, Tiger Woods, Wayne Gretzky, Joe Montana, and George Brett they're not real men.
posted by tommybiden at 03:29 PM on April 09, 2007
A professional athlete from Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Who knew? People in Eastern Iowa have known about ZJ's talent for a while now, but he just hadn't had the great run until this past weekend. We called this one all along. Go ZJ, way to represent Cedar Rapids and Iowa!
posted by boredom_08 at 06:31 PM on April 09, 2007
I suppose what I mean when I say I find it hard to get excited about the result is that ZJ is not one of the (very) few guys coming through in golf that I can see challenging Tiger properly. I see the result as a one-off deal - a bit like Ben Curtis winning the Open - rather than the start of something new and exciting in golf. When Farmer Phil started winning majors, I was excited (even though I don't like him much) because I felt like he had a lot to contribute and like he could become a proper rival to Tiger (so, I was wrong, but still I had that feeling). I don't get that from ZJ. They guy is, or at least claims to be, too regular a Joe to ever compete in major after major with someone for whom the whole thing feels like the meaning of his presence on the planet. Fair play to ZJ - he hit fewer shots, he deserved to win - I'm just not excited by his win.
posted by JJ at 06:39 PM on April 09, 2007
Good point about Ali. I don't count Tyson though. No good reason other than it's...tyson.
posted by jmd82 at 07:05 PM on April 09, 2007
I think it was one of the better Masters I have seen in a long time. I have to agree with a couple of comments from players and announcers: The Masters is about great rounds and low scores and back nine charges. If I wanted to see above par scoring and frustrated golfers on American soil, I'll watch the US Open.
posted by grum@work at 10:10 PM on April 09, 2007
Sometimes nice guys do finish first.
posted by longgreenline at 01:49 AM on April 10, 2007
The Masters is about great rounds and low scores and back nine charges. Maybe that's another reason I found it hard to get excited or interested on Sunday night. As you point out, grum, there was none of that going on. Everyone was clinging to what they had and the only adventurous play was coming as a last ditch effort to grab the title as it slipped away instead of as a firm statement of intent. On that basis, I was surprised by Tiger's decision to go for 15 in two after his poor drive. A half-decent lay up would have left him with a high chance of making birdie, then he has that gathering hole location on 16 and the resonably inviting hole location at the last. He went fishing for a miracle shot before he needed one I think. Apart from anything else, had he made birdie on 15, it might have affected ZJ's finish (although he said he wasn't watching the board).
posted by JJ at 05:37 AM on April 10, 2007
You saying real men don't cry? Hmmm, someone tell Michael Jordan, Tiger Woods, Wayne Gretzky, Joe Montana, and George Brett they're not real men. Ok these guys cried after they won a championship which is fine. They didn't cry on Thursday when talking about the playing conditions. ZJ cried everytime I saw him on an interview. I guess you could think of it both ways. I am glad the course won and Augusta showed its teeth for a first time in a long time. To me I like small ball baseball so I guess I enjoy when par golf is good enough to win. The smart player who doesn't make big mistakes usually wins these events. That is why I really thought Retif was going to win at the start of the day. He has the perfect game for courses like the Opens. Tiger might just be the greatest golfer at the end of his career. I can say one thing for Jack. Jack could come back on day four of a major from six strokes to make it exciting and win. Tiger has yet to come from behind, to me that is not a complete golfer. One commentator made a point that maybe there is more pressure on Tiger to win from behind then there was on ZJ to win over Tiger on the back nine.
posted by jayzee at 07:07 AM on April 10, 2007
Tiger has yet to come from behind, to me that is not a complete golfer. Well, that's not really fair. I'm pretty sure that Tiger hasn't led wire-to-wire in all of his major wins, so he's obviously "come from behind" at some point. The fact that he makes up ground Friday and Saturday instead of waiting for Sunday to make a last ditch charge shouldn't be held against him. Being dominant throughout the tournament instead of waiting for Sunday shouldn't be considered a negative.
posted by grum@work at 09:07 AM on April 10, 2007
"The fact that he makes up ground Friday and Saturday instead of waiting for Sunday to make a last ditch charge shouldn't be held against him. Being dominant throughout the tournament instead of waiting for Sunday shouldn't be considered a negative." True, but what happens when Tiger isn't able to get a lead on Saturday like the Masters this year. You really should be able to finish strong when need be and handle the pressure.
posted by jayzee at 09:26 AM on April 10, 2007
You really should be able to finish strong when need be and handle the pressure. And he has, numerous times in the majors. How often has he gone into the final day in the final pair and then run away from the field? How often have people talked about other golfers folding under the pressure of playing Tiger Woods? To suggest he can't handle the pressure and finish strong is to ignore his performance in all the other majors he's won. Did he choke a bit during this one? I can (sort of) understand that point of view. To suggest that he can't handle the pressure or finish strong? I'm not buying what your selling.
posted by grum@work at 09:50 AM on April 10, 2007
If Tiger isn't considered a complete golfer b/c he never makes a "comeback," then i bet he can rest in the knowledge that he hardly ever had to b/c of his dominance. Jayzee, it sounds like you're looking for a reason to bag on Woods, b/c this one makes little sense.
posted by brainofdtrain at 10:32 AM on April 10, 2007
I am not saying in anyway that Tiger woods isn't great golfer probably the best there ever was, before it all said and done. I am just making a comment that he cannot win when he is down going into Sunday in the majors. To this day that is a fact not my opinion. To me pressure could be the only reason because we know he has the skills to beat anyone on the course. I think Tiger is his own worst enemy. If choking is finishing second in the masters most golfers would opt to choke. I don't think he choked maybe a few poor decisions.
posted by jayzee at 11:21 AM on April 10, 2007
I am glad the course won and Augusta showed its teeth for a first time in a long time. But that's not what The Masters is about. The USGA can be all macho and try for a inflated final score at the Open but The Masters is about shotmaking and excitement. That's not to take away from the competition this year, but I hope next year you can see more of the characteristics that have always made it exciting.
posted by YukonGold at 12:08 PM on April 10, 2007
Until you introduce some sort of variable par and it becomes possible for the course to have a bad day out there, then the course "winning" is just nonsense. If you're out on your own and want something to measure your performance by, then par is relevant. If you're playing in a tournament with a bunch of other people, then all you have to do is beat them; the course doesn't get an invite. The course is what it is and you have to play what is put in front of you. Calling a hole a par five or a par four doesn't make it any easier or harder to play - that measurement is there to give us, the viewing public, some way to measure what's going on. There are players out there making a great living who still can't make that distinction. They get scared when they have three birdies in a row, sensing that somehow having done so makes it less likely that they will make another at the next hole, but there is no cumulative probability at work - or if there is, it's working in the other direction in that instance. I've never understood the par obsession the USGA seem to have. It smacks of ego and negativity to me. The course for any tournament should be set up to identify the best player that week, not the person who can cling on better than anyone else. I've ranted about this before so I won't go on about it, but if you look at the Open Championship, the list of recent winners at St Andrews (probably the "easiest" course on the rota has produced, going backwards and from memory: Woods, Woods, Daly, Faldo, Faldo, Nicklaus) verses the recent winners on the "tough" courses like Carnoustie (Lawrie) and Sandwich (Curtis). Good shots should be rewarded, bad shots should be punished, but, like all of our lives, what should happen and what does happen isn't often the same. But par? Par has nothing to do with anything. Par is a statistic. Par is an abstract thing. I played nine holes after work the other night. We had to play the final hole pretty much in the dark. My playing partner kept saying "But it's only seven-thirty!". Much like par, it didn't matter a damn what time it was. It was dark and would have been regardless of the time.
posted by JJ at 12:57 PM on April 10, 2007
I played nine holes after work the other night. Jealous. Great comments JJ.
posted by YukonGold at 05:49 PM on April 10, 2007
According to Zach, he didn't win. Jesus did. I would find this unremarkable except he just kept saying it, and saying it, and saying it....