Zach Johnson is an American professional golfer who has won two major championships and 12 PGA Tour titles in his career. He is known for his accuracy, consistency, and clutch putting. He is also a devout Christian and a philanthropist who supports various causes. In this article, we will take a look at his background, career highlights, and achievements.
Early Life and Amateur Career
- Zach Johnson was born on February 24, 1976 in Iowa City, Iowa. He grew up in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, where he attended Regis High School and played golf, basketball, and soccer. He was not a highly recruited golfer, but he earned a scholarship to attend Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa, where he studied business management and sociology. He had a successful collegiate golf career, winning 10 tournaments and becoming a four-time All-Missouri Valley Conference selection. He also represented the United States in the 1998 Palmer Cup.
- Johnson turned professional in 1998, and played on various mini-tours such as the Prairie Golf Tour, the Hooters Tour, and the Buy.com Tour (now the Korn Ferry Tour). He won six times on the Hooters Tour, and earned his PGA Tour card for the 2004 season by finishing second on the Buy.com Tour money list in 2003.
Professional Career
- Johnson made an immediate impact on the PGA Tour, winning his first title at the 2004 BellSouth Classic in a playoff over Mark Hensby. He also finished second at the Wachovia Championship and third at the PGA Championship that year, earning him the PGA Tour Rookie of the Year award.
- Johnson continued to win at least one PGA Tour title every year from 2004 to 2010, except for 2006. His most notable victory came at the 2007 Masters Tournament, where he defeated Tiger Woods, Retief Goosen, and Rory Sabbatini by two strokes. He became the first player to win the Masters with an over-par score of 289 (+1) since Jack Burke Jr. in 1956. He also became the first player from Iowa to win a major championship.
- Johnson added another major title to his resume at the 2015 Open Championship at St Andrews, where he beat Louis Oosthuizen and Marc Leishman in a four-hole playoff. He became the sixth player to win both the Masters and the Open Championship at St Andrews, joining Woods, Nick Faldo, Seve Ballesteros, Jack Nicklaus, and Sam Snead.
- Johnson has also won several prestigious tournaments on the PGA Tour, such as the BMW Championship in 2013, the Hyundai Tournament of Champions in 2014, and the Valero Texas Open in 2018. He has also represented the United States in five Ryder Cups (winning three of them), four Presidents Cups (winning all of them), and one World Cup (winning it with Matt Kuchar in 2013).
Personal Life and Interests
- Johnson married Kim Barclay in 2003, and they have three children: Will (born 2006), Wyatt (born 2008), and Abby Jane (born 2014). They live in St. Simons Island, Georgia.
- Johnson is a devout Christian who credits his faith for his success and happiness. He is also a philanthropist who supports various causes through his foundation , such as children’s health care , education , community development , and disaster relief . He also hosts an annual charity golf tournament called The Zach Johnson Foundation Classic , which benefits Kids on Course , a program that provides academic and enrichment opportunities for low-income students.
- Johnson is an avid sports fan who follows the Iowa Hawkeyes , the Chicago Cubs , the Chicago Bears , and the Chicago Bulls . He also enjoys fishing , hunting , reading , and playing cards .
Career Statistics and Awards
Here are some tables that summarize Johnson’s career statistics and awards:
| PGA Tour Wins | Year | Tournament |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2004 | BellSouth Classic |
| 2 | 2007 | Masters Tournament |
| 3 | 2007 | AT&T Classic |
| 4 | 2008 | Sony Open in Hawaii |
| 5 | 2009 | Valero Texas Open |
| 6 | 2009 | Sony Open in Hawaii |
| 7 | 2010 | Crowne Plaza Invitational at Colonial |
| 8 | 2012 | John Deere Classic |
| 9 | 2013 | BMW Championship |
| 10 | 2014 | Hyundai Tournament of Champions |
| 11 | 2015 | The Open Championship |
| 12 | 2018 | Valero Texas Open |
| Other Wins | Year | Tournament |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2003 | Rheem Classic (Buy.com Tour) |
| 2 | 2003 | Envirocare Utah Classic (Buy.com Tour) |
| 3 | 2011 | Chevron World Challenge |
| 4 | 2013 | World Cup (with Matt Kuchar) |
Major Championships Results
- Masters Tournament: Won (2007)
- PGA Championship: T3 (2010)
- U.S. Open: T2 (2015)
- The Open Championship: Won (2015)
Awards and Honors
- Buy.com Tour Money List Winner (2003)
- PGA Tour Rookie of the Year (2004)
- Payne Stewart Award (2014)
- Honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters from Drake University (2015)
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