Several youngsters, strategically placed, got their man.
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Johnson stopped and signed a handful of autographs for the kids, who had wedged themselves under a chain-link fence and protective green cover designed to keep spectators at bay.
Playing partners Keegan Bradley and Martin Kaymer were two and one under respectively, Kaymer returning to the scene of his first major title in 2010.
But the two-time major victor believes Johnson could have the last laugh by finally claiming his first Major title five years on at Whistling Straits.
“He now goes into each major plotting, planning and on a mission, preparing himself for a win“, said six-time major champion Nick Faldo, a golf analyst for CBS Sports.
They certainly did not make him mad or vengeful.
It has never received attention like this.
“The shock and awe of Augusta was pretty intense, and I would say this year it’s more just extreme awe”, Johnson said. “And we’re in the Midwest, too“.
“I thought it was going to be a bomber’s paradise”, Spieth said of the course he first played last week. His victory at St. Andrews may have blown his cover.
Heading into the PGA Championship that tees off at Whistling Straits on Thursday, the 22-year-old Masters and US Open champion is closing in on Rory McIlroy’s number one world ranking much sooner than his meticulous career plan forecast. No under-the-radar stuff here.
“We’re going to have a good time, and hopefully we can all feed off each other these two days”. It wasn’t coming here, trying to win a Grand Slam….
Johnson had also squandered a three-shot lead in the final round of the US Open in 2010 and three-putted the 72nd hole of this year’s US Open to finish a shot behind Jordan Spieth. Rory McIlroy, the current No. 1 golfer in the world, has been sidelined with an ankle injury since July 4, and hasn’t competed in a tournament since the U.S. Open back in June. “I live in Florida and we go out in the evenings and you may get beaten, but here you get eaten alive”.
It’s far from a two-man show and there are strong cases to be made for in-form players like Rickie Fowler and Bubba Watson, whose length off the tee gives them a serious advantage here. “I’m excited about Thursday and Friday“.
“No, I’m not surprised to see him back here”, Clarke said. OK, weve got the rankings there, but its all a matter of opinion.. He can draw additional confidence from finishing in a tie for third in the 2010 PGA at Whistling Straits at 10 under. And obviously after my round on Sunday I knew it was enough, so I was very happy about it. I didn’t even think that there might be a playoff. “So I definitely would take the more consistent route, rather than just the one major”.
“If you were to go by this year, you would have to say Jordan”, he replied.
Zach Johnson was asked about that, too, yesterday.
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Columnist Rick Brown is a 10-time Iowa Sportswriter of the Year.
