An interview on Zach Johnson

Q. The grasses are kind of similar.

ZACH JOHNSON: Well, I grew up on anything but Bermuda. I have poa annua, rye, Kentucky blue and bent, so I don't know. The greens here are bentgrass, that part, anybody can putt on bent in my opinion. Especially bent like this. What you see is what you get. If it's right lip, it's right lip. It's not 2 balls out with the grain. It's right lip. I love it. That's what I grew up on. I grew up on pure bentgrass greens that were very true.

Q. As special as it was to slip on the plaid jacket last year when you won, talk about seeing your name on the wall, how's will it going to feel to be able to tee off and see your name on the wall with all of those other greats?

ZACH JOHNSON: I'm kind of hoping I tee off on 10 on Thursday. I don't want to get caught up in it. It's cool. It's a complete honor. It's a humbling honor. You are talking about one or more elite fraternities in sports, let alone in golf.

I think it starts with tradition, the history that Colonial Country Club has instilled and the guys that have walked these fairways in previous years. Specifically Mr. Hogan, and what he is known for around here. So just to be a small part of that, it's very special. I've always liked this tournament. I always thought it was an honor to play in this tournament. But let alone to win it is completely it's just awesome. It's terrific.

This tournament is always high on my list of wanting to win. It always has been. It still is. Just because I won it once doesn't mean I don't want to win it again.

I've become partial to that plaid. It's the people here too. That's what makes these places special. It's the club, and the members here, and what the members are trying to do for the area, too. Fortunately Crowne Plaza, Colonial Country Club, they get it. They are showcasing a pretty awesome event on a phenomenal facility.

But yet, more importantly, they are helping a lot of people in need. I'm kind of getting philosophical right now. It's true. That's what the PGA TOUR is about and that's what this tournament is about.

Q. If anything, what does that say to you about those 3?

ZACH JOHNSON: It don't surprise me in the least. Not even remotely surprises me. I know we are seeing a lot of these young guns and this influx of 20's talent rise. For good reason, they are good. They are really good. They are deep. They are talented. They are groomed before they even step on the first tee in the first event. It doesn't surprise me.

Our veteran play out here is tremendous. It's deep, too. The 40 plus year olds are still hungry, still wanting to win. You are going to see that a lot more.

Obviously Phil has won this year. Was there anybody in their 40's that have won? I'm assuming there has been. Well, it's irrelevant. Last week, K.J. It doesn't surprise me K.J., David Toms who are two of the better players that have played in the last decade, 15 years even. I think you are going to see a lot more of that. That's a cool story because you are going to see the 20's go up against the 40's. I'm somewhere in the middle there which is fine. I think it's great for the sport. That's the beauty of golf.

You are also looking at certain golf courses, too. Sawgrass is one, the more you play it, the better off, the more experience you have on that golf course, the better it is, the easier it becomes for you because you know where not to go and where to go.

So I think the young guys will learn.

It's not a bomber's paradise there either. You got to work your ball. Someone made the comment there, I think it makes a lot of sense. It seems like for every tee shot, obviously there is one pending, for the most part, every tee shot, you have to fade it off the tree and draw it into the green. You got to draw it off the tee and fade it into the greens. It's got everything. It requires every aspect of your game to be on and that's why I think the champion that comes on top is more than deserving. K.J. and David, he golfed his ball tremendous.

Q. Zach, it seem like a lot of the great three hole stretches on TOUR come late in the round. This one obviously comes very early. Is it a matter of you can't ease your way into the round like it catches your attention right away this horseshoe?

ZACH JOHNSON: 3, 4 and 5 are phenomenal holes. They are holes that you really have to just step up and hit quality shots. I don't feel like the other holes out here are much different.

The tee shot on 3, you get it in the fairway it becomes a lot easier hole. 4 is just a long par 3. Solid shot, you are going to make a par. Five tee shot and second shot. 5 is the hole for me. It's just a good solid hole. You got to hit a fade off the tee and the fairway slopes right to left. There is junk right, and you don't want to miss it left. The rough is not that bad this year. You don't want to be in the rough.

Your second shot is no bargain there either. For the most part every hole, you still got to pay attention. Once you think you get through that, 6, 7, 8 and 9 can bite you just as quick. Those three holes are brutal as far as what it requires.

But the other ones you can't fall asleep. It's not like you are just going to ease into them. You still got to put the ball in the fairway and put the ball on the green and that's what makes this place great.

Q. Kind of expand when you say reevaluated, what does it mean you did, and what do you think you did that's making the results show up now?

ZACH JOHNSON: Well, I didn't necessarily expect the results to show up quite that quick. I sat down with Dr. Morris Pickens, my sports phycologist, and one night I was just sitting there and just typed a bunch of notes on my phone to I knew I had a meeting with him the next day. I just, you know, the way I'm thinking, the way I'm relating to my caddy, the way I'm practicing. All sorts of things. From one end of the spectrum to another. We just hashed it all on paper and tried to condense it. And tried to test three or four key things to think about to focus on. I will revaluate after this week as well. It's an ongoing process.

Q. But it's more mental than physical?

ZACH JOHNSON: Yes. It would be more mental that physical, for sure. Physically I'm better now than I was last year, I think. I've implemented a new part to my team. Everything is going the right direction.

Q. Hey, Zach, when you kind of look at the history of the tournaments in Texas it seems like the midwest guys have a pretty good track record. Is there something about growing up in the midwest where Texas courses kind of suit their games?

ZACH JOHNSON: That's a good question. I guess I didn't realize it was that apparent. You know, the midwest, I guess you'd say even prairie area of the states. There is a lot of wind. I grew up in wind. I don't dislike the wind at all.

I think if anything my game is suited to it just because when it comes to wind and trajectory control it becomes a necessity.

And trajectory control, the fairways become more of a premium. The greens and the fairways dry out so it becomes faster and I like that. I don't know. Last year there was no wind here. That totally completely defeats what I just said. I don't know what it is. I can't answer that. Maybe we just like the central time zone.

Q. This is a course that seems perfectly suited for your game. Where does this rank on TOUR in terms of all of the courses that seem perfect for your game?

ZACH JOHNSON: It's up there. It's way up there. If there is a minimal rain and the fairways are dry, the greens are always somewhat receptive because they are bentgrass and so far south. It's way up there.

I think you can argue it's one, if not the best course on TOUR. I was playing with some guys yesterday who hit it a lot further than I do, and they were saying the same thing. You can't cheat your way around this. That's not the right word. You can't get away with errant shots. It rewards quality shots. It rewards quality putting. That's what you want out of a golf course. Typically it's windy. Last year was an anomaly I think. So there is always that element. The cream rises to the top here. You hit it good and you putt it good, it will show on Sunday. You may not win, but you will be up there. You will have a chance and that's the way it should be. This course withstood the test of time. It's the old cliche, why can't they make them like they used to?