I was intimidated, not necessarily because of the yardage, though because of the greens. They're just so hard to putt. They're big. They're undulating. A flat putt is pretty slow. The ones down grain are super fast. ... It's just hard. You're going to hit a lot of fairways. You're going to hit a lot of greens. And you're going to miss a lot of putts.

Zach Johnson

Categorized in : Sports

Goal setting will never stop. I will continue to work hard and practice hard and see where things go.

Zach Johnson

hard-work goal practice

I just see myself as an athlete and a competitor, someone who just works really hard at trying to get better at golf.

Zach Johnson

get-better athlete golf

Elmcrest CC, in Cedar Rapids, is where it all started when I was growing up. The tree-lined course has a very demanding layout that requires you to be accurate off the tee and avoid a number of well-placed water hazards on some of the holes.

Zach Johnson

growing-up numbers water

I hit a lot of fairways, which you have to do here, and I hit a lot of greens in regulation, i missed a lot of makeable, short putts that week and still had a chance to win coming down the stretch.

Zach Johnson

sports

This isn't my favorite golf course that we stop at for the PGA Championship, but St. Andrews is not in the top two or three( British Open venues).

Zach Johnson

sports

This just wasn't one of those, it's hard to do that every single time.

Zach Johnson

sports

I'm grateful. I'm humbled. I'm honored, this is the birthplace of the game, and that jug means so much in sports.

Zach Johnson

sports

Whether it's into the wind or down-wind, it was playing very difficult, i didn't hit it very good, I didn't drive it very well so that made it even tougher. My score is terrible but I'm still not out of the mix, I guess.

Zach Johnson

sports

I played solid, have given myself a number of opportunities, i am putting well.

Zach Johnson

sports

I'm kind of a grinder. I'm a Cinderella, an underdog story who fights.

Zach Johnson

story who underdog kind

I'm a foodie. I enjoy it a lot, and contrary to what it looks, I eat a lot. My comfort food, of all things, would be southern soul barbecue.

Zach Johnson

enjoy soul food looks

Sports formed me. I was always decently skilled but lacked size, so I had to resort to using my skill versus my power. I strategically play golf because that's all I can do. It's the same on the basketball court. I try to get open and shoot it. Or I use the open space on the soccer field.

Zach Johnson

me space power sports

I've got a great support system, starting with my wife and family, to my agent, my instructor, and my mental coach.

Zach Johnson

great support family wife

Some people thought I'd be on the PGA Tour, that I'd win tournaments, play in majors, contend in majors, win majors. I thought they were crazy.

Zach Johnson

thought win crazy people

I have no superstitions. I don't have to have a Sunday outfit. I don't have socks or underwear I have to wear.

Zach Johnson

socks outfit wear sunday

Whenever I'm in Des Moines, I always make a trip to Manhattan Deli for a sandwich. I spent a lot of time there when I was going to college at Drake, so it's usually my one 'go-to' food stop when I'm in town.

Zach Johnson

stop college time food

You need to make a trip to Des Moines in August, because the Iowa State Fair really is a sight to see. The Iowa Fairgrounds are usually packed for those 11 days, and you get a real sense of what a classic Midwest fair is all about.

Zach Johnson

see you classic real

There are a bunch of places to stay in Des Moines, but I'd suggest finding a place on the west side of town. It's a great urban area that has a lot to offer tourists.

Zach Johnson

finding stay place great

When you're trying to accomplish lofty goals, and when you're attacking something of great magnitude, you have to have help.

Zach Johnson

goals great you trying

I'm a Christian guy, and when it comes to my priorities, it's the utmost. For me, just to calm myself down, to keep my perspective when I'm playing, to not make too big a deal of it... that's where I go to. The peace that comes with that allows me to play free golf.

Zach Johnson

myself me perspective peace