Leading Men: Zach Johnson

We caught up with Zach Johnson ahead of the match at Medinah…

This year’s Ryder Cup is going to be a special experience for me as it is my fi rst one on home soil. Any time you play in front of friends, family and obviously American fans it’s special, and I’m relishing this opportunity.

Chicago fans are rabid sport fans, and I don’t foresee them being diff erent that week. I know the locals are already excited and I expect the atmosphere will be awesome.

I have been involved in some amazing Ryder Cup moments already in my life. My first Ryder Cup in 2006 in Ireland was such a great experience all week, but the thing which will live with me for ever is my singles match on Sunday. I was playing against Darren Clarke, in his home country, not long after his wife had passed away. He was really rallying the troops and I just remember the 1st tee and how loud it was. I’ll never forget that.

I try not to think too much about the Ryder Cup early in the year. You have to strike a delicate balance of embracing it; and yet still get on with the business in hand without letting it be a focus.

I am really looking forward to having Davis Love III as a leader. I expect it to be a lot of fun. I think our team room  atmosphere will be very loose; and the communication lines will be very fluid. Davis is a competitor first, and I know he’s going
to want us to be very competitive, especially after what happened in Wales. That’s the way he plays the game, and he’ll want that from us. Davis will make the decisions that need to be made.

The course at Medinah is a classic Midwest golf course. You have to hit it in a certain spot if you want to open up the flags. There are big greens that roll off to the sides so it’s all about hitting fairways. I hear some of the European guys are claiming
underdog status but I feel like I’m always an underdog. I like that. As far as I know they have the Cup, so surely we’re the underdogs.