OT: Tiger Woods & Zach

[IowaNiceHawk]

In the aftermath of th N Trust Open, the Golf-casters were talking Ryder Cup.

Interestingly, Zach Johnson & Tiger Woods both finished -4 at Northern Trust.

Some are saying that Zach will be the Captains' pick, due to his vast
Ryder Cup experience, class, poise, clutch shot-making, along with the
fact that he is a YUUUUGE Hawkeye Fan !

 

[comet_y2k]

Unfortunately, there is probably little to no chance Zach is a captains pick. There is basically one spot left, and I dont see ZJ being picked over Finau, Schauffele, or Kisner

 

[thewop]

Unfortunately, there is probably little to no chance Zach is a captains pick. There is basically one spot left, and I dont see ZJ being picked over Finau, Schauffele, or Kisner

Yeah, unfortunately I think you're correct. The objective captain would have to take any of those 3 over Zach right now. Ever since he switched to PXG he just hasn't been able to put 4 rounds together, although he has put some solid performances together overall this year, he just hasn't gotten up there to the top on Sunday.

 

[millhawk]

The captains picks will be Tiger, Phil, DeChambeau and Finau. Bryson made Furyk's job a lot easier.

 

[Hawk68]

Tiger is a lock since he doubles the TV audience and ensures a sell-out crowd if it wasn't already.

 

[Btowngold]

In the aftermath of th N Trust Open, the Golf-casters were talking Ryder Cup.

Interestingly, Zach Johnson & Tiger Woods both finished -4 at Northern Trust.

Some are saying that Zach will be the Captains' pick, due to his vast
Ryder Cup experience, class, poise, clutch shot-making, along with the
fact that he is a YUUUUGE Hawkeye Fan !

Didn't he attend Drake?

 

[24 so far]

Didn't he attend Drake?

Yes he did. Grew up in C.R. I believe. Kind of a pedestrian college career at Drake. A friend of mine who had played with Zach a couple of times shortly after Drake, told me "watch out for this Iowa kid named Zach Johnson, his short game is phenominal and that's what you need to make The Tour!".

Shortly after that he missed the cut at Quad Cities in his 1st Pro Tournament, so I called my friend and told him how "great" this kid was he was talking about! He's won that tournament multiple times since then and a couple of Majors and some Ryder Cups and I presume Presidents Cup teams.

Yep, my buddy called it correctly all those years and millions of dollars ago!

 

[icwesthawk]

Didn't he attend Drake?

Born at University of Iowa Hospital, however.

 

[rchawk]

Born at University of Iowa Hospital, however.

And a big Hawkeye fan.

 

[DogBoyRy]

In the aftermath of th N Trust Open, the Golf-casters were talking Ryder Cup.

Interestingly, Zach Johnson & Tiger Woods both finished -4 at Northern Trust.

Some are saying that Zach will be the Captains' pick, due to his vast
Ryder Cup experience, class, poise, clutch shot-making, along with the
fact that he is a YUUUUGE Hawkeye Fan !

Word from CR friend is zach will be assistant coach on the ryder cup team.

 

[IowaNiceHawk]

Word from CR friend is zach will be assistant coach on the ryder cup team.

Well, that's cool, if true.

 

[LarryMullenJr.]

Well, that's cool, if true.

Sounds very much like a done deal. Tiger is supposed to be a vice-captain, but if (when) picked, ZJ would take his place. Unless of course Z also plays his way in.

 

[Btowngold]

Yes he did. Grew up in C.R. I believe. Kind of a pedestrian college career at Drake. A friend of mine who had played with Zach a couple of times shortly after Drake, told me "watch out for this Iowa kid named Zach Johnson, his short game is phenominal and that's what you need to make The Tour!".

Shortly after that he missed the cut at Quad Cities in his 1st Pro Tournament, so I called my friend and told him how "great" this kid was he was talking about! He's won that tournament multiple times since then and a couple of Majors and some Ryder Cups and I presume Presidents Cup teams.

Yep, my buddy called it correctly all those years and millions of dollars ago!

he is a very good pro

 

[IC Hawks]

Yeah, unfortunately I think you're correct. The objective captain would have to take any of those 3 over Zach right now. Ever since he switched to PXG he just hasn't been able to put 4 rounds together, although he has put some solid performances together overall this year, he just hasn't gotten up there to the top on Sunday.

Yeah, I remember at the time he said he didn't switch for the money.

With perfect 20-20 hindsight, then why fix what ain't broken?

Lately he can hit some really wonky drives. Like 40-yards-up-against-a-fence left at Firestone. Or lay up in a hazard. Of course even pros do these things occasionally, but Zach's bread-and-butter is NOT doing them.

Hoping he can have a mid-forties flourish like a Steve Stricker, who has a similar game. If not, still an amazing career.

 

[thewop]

Yeah, I remember at the time he said he didn't switch for the money.

With perfect 20-20 hindsight, then why fix what ain't broken?

Lately he can hit some really wonky drives. Like 40-yards-up-against-a-fence left at Firestone. Or lay up in a hazard. Of course even pros do these things occasionally, but Zach's bread-and-butter is NOT doing them.

Hoping he can have a mid-forties flourish like a Steve Stricker, who has a similar game. If not, still an amazing career.

Agreed, the things he's been so good at over the years just haven't been there for him. He works on a little thinner margin for error than others because of his length, so he really needs to be straight.

I don't think he did do it for the money, but rather because Bob Parsons, owner/founder of PXG is from Cedar Rapids, like Zach, and I think he was just helping Bob out. That's a pure guess, I don't know anyone involved. It wouldn't surprise me though if Bob had helped Zach financially back in the web.com tour years (or whatever it was back then), but again that's pure speculation. I don't know.

 

[IC Hawks]

Agreed, the things he's been so good at over the years just haven't been there for him. He works on a little thinner margin for error than others because of his length, so he really needs to be straight.

I don't think he did do it for the money, but rather because Bob Parsons, owner/founder of PXG is from Cedar Rapids, like Zach, and I think he was just helping Bob out. That's a pure guess, I don't know anyone involved. It wouldn't surprise me though if Bob had helped Zach financially back in the web.com tour years (or whatever it was back then), but again that's pure speculation. I don't know.

Cool, didn't know the CR angle. I take Zach at his word and even if money was a motivation it's purely his call anyway.

Also, it's not like he's disappeared. Some quite accomplished golfers will go away for long periods of time. Not Zach. Was in the final group at the Texas Open, but Andrew Landry out-Zached Zach! A first-time winner, years before said Zach was one of his golf heroes. Figures.

 

[DogBoyRy]

Agreed, the things he's been so good at over the years just haven't been there for him. He works on a little thinner margin for error than others because of his length, so he really needs to be straight.

I don't think he did do it for the money, but rather because Bob Parsons, owner/founder of PXG is from Cedar Rapids, like Zach, and I think he was just helping Bob out. That's a pure guess, I don't know anyone involved. It wouldn't surprise me though if Bob had helped Zach financially back in the web.com tour years (or whatever it was back then), but again that's pure speculation. I don't know.

I know a friend who belongs to Elmcrest CC where Zach started playing. I do think Parsons was part of the group from Elmcrest who funded Zach his first couple years then wouldn't take the money back when he made it big. You Pervs out there need to Google Bob Parsons wife (second).
Side Note - I always enjoyed playing Elmcrest and it was always one of the best conditioned courses. This year they lost their greens to a disease and canned their supt.

 

[thewop]

Cool, didn't know the CR angle. I take Zach at his word and even if money was a motivation it's purely his call anyway.

Also, it's not like he's disappeared. Some quite accomplished golfers will go away for long periods of time. Not Zach. Was in the final group at the Texas Open, but Andrew Landry out-Zached Zach! A first-time winner, years before said Zach was one of his golf heroes. Figures.

True, recently he's been making cuts and has had a number of top 20s. In all, pretty spectacular when considering he's playing against the best in the world.

 

[BCRoss89]

Sounds very much like a done deal. Tiger is supposed to be a vice-captain, but if (when) picked, ZJ would take his place. Unless of course Z also plays his way in.

How well would Zach have to finish in the Fed Ex Cup standings...or does he have to win one of the remaining playoffs/championship to play him self into the Ryder Cup?

 

[LarryMullenJr.]

How well would Zach have to finish in the Fed Ex Cup standings...or does he have to win one of the remaining playoffs/championship to play him self into the Ryder Cup?

The top 8 are already a done deal through points qualifying, and the points are done. Furyk (captain) gets 4 more picks--three after this week's tournament, and then 1 more in a couple weeks, right before the Ryder Cup. Everyone is thinking it's a forgone conclusion that with the way Tiger and Phil have been playing as of late, and them being 10th and 11th in the points (and they're Tiger and Phil) they'll be two of the picks, leaving two.
Many feel Bryson DeChambeau pretty much locked up a spot having been 9th in points (one spot out of auto-qualifying) and winning last week in impressive fashion. I'm not totally sold personally because he is a rather polarizing player and MANY guys on tour don't like him. Still hard to argue against him.
The feeling is Zach would have to finish pretty high in the next tourneys to be considered a "hot" player for that last spot (or two, depending on who you ask). He's great in these team events and has plenty of experience so he certainly has good arguments, but it's hard to argue against a "hot hand" so if he's not top 10-15 in the next week or two, I don't think he gets picked to play.

 

[TKingpin]

Yeah, I really follow golf and Zach in particular. The analysis above is correct. Tiger, Phil and DeChambeau are in. So it is down to the final spot. Right now it is probably Kisner or Finau for the final pick. Snedeker won a couple weeks ago, so he may also be in the conversation.

Zach’s only chance is to win one of these next 2 tournaments to prove he is the “hot golfer” or if this course near Paris is a links style course similar to the British and Scottish venues. No American has a better track record than Zach at those British Open venues over the last decade. If that course is a bombers course - It will be Finau.

If I were a gambling man, I would say that Zach will be there, but taking Tiger’s spot as an Assistant Captain.

 

[Pepperman]

Zach’s only chance is to win one of these next 2 tournaments to prove he is the “hot golfer” or if this course near Paris is a links style course similar to the British and Scottish venues. No American has a better track record than Zach at those British Open venues over the last decade. If that course is a bombers course - It will be Finau.

If I were a gambling man, I would say that Zach will be there, but taking Tiger’s spot as an Assistant Captain.

It is not a links style course from what I have heard on the radio. I think it is more of an American style course, which is sort of odd that team Europe selected it (or maybe it is a central body that selects the venue, I don't know).

 

[LarryMullenJr.]

Baring Finau actually snapping his ankle--Lord knows a 'simple' dislocation isn't enough--I'm guessing he's the pick. The guy can pile up birdies like stripper cards on the Vegas Strip, thus would be fabulous in better ball play.

 

[Pepperman]

I agree, I think Finau is the final pick.

It really is too bad that Bryson went out and won in such convincing fashion - as already mentioned, he's not a great personality guy. I really think Kisner would have been awesome in that role, to keep the guys loose and sort of be the team clown.