Zach's Win Good For Golf

After a few days away with my family and the in-laws...we're back! Although it's a little late; how about that Iowa Boy Zach Johnson winning this year's Masters? I'm sure the casual golf fan knew of Zach as he was a member of the US Ryder Cup team this past September and he has been in contention since his arrival on tour just a short time ago, but by no means was he a household name.

I think Zach's victory tells a great story of what golf is all about. Just about everyone in the world, except for Frank Nobilo of the Golf Channel picked Tiger Woods to win on Saturday night. And why not? Tiger hadn't played great yet and he stumbled his way home two rounds in a row...the tournament was his for the taking. Golf is a funny game. Some will say the golf gods got to Tiger...in fact most would say that. I say Zach Johnson got to Tiger. He had a game plan and he stuck to it. He didn't go for a single par 5 in two all week! He kept the ball on the correct sides of the fairways and the greens and limited his mistakes. Most importantly, he made the 5-8 footers when he had to. Tiger didn't and Retief Goosen didn't.

This win is good for golf. I know our friends at Iowa Sports Connection are happy (and Iowans in general!) Tiger has been so incredible we forget that he is human...and he is. Zach ignored the reporters saying short-knockers can't win at Augusta; ignored the roar he heard standing over his 3rd shot at 15 and calmly went on to do what everyone else thought Tiger would do.

Zach Johnson won the Masters and he did it with the world's greatest golfer right there with him. That should help everyone else out when facing similar circumstances with Mr. Woods and make the ending of major tournaments more interesting; there may be a slight chink in the armor now...only time will tell.  Zach Johnson may never be a household name, but he gave a little hope to everyone else on tour that's for sure.