JOHN DEERE CLASSIC

July 3, 2022

Zach Johnson

TPC Deere Run

Quick Quotes

ZACH JOHNSON:

Q. Zach, just assess the week overall, what you got out it.

ZACH JOHNSON: Man, it's hard to assess it right now. So fresh.

It was a long week considering I got here when I got here. I mean, clearly I'm frustrated with my day. I'm not really frustrated with the state of my game. Today is not indicative of where I am at.

I'm going to have to really diagnose today and probably learn from it a little bit, and hopefully dismiss it pretty quick.

I mean, I'm encouraged. That sounds like I'm just trying to find a positive here, but I really am. It's better now than it was last week, certainly better than two weeks ago.

So I'll figure it out. I'm not too concerned about the state of it.

Q. Have you crossed paths with J.T. Poston? I know he's down from your neck of the woods.

ZACH JOHNSON: Oh, yeah. I've stayed with him with a bunch guys. We rented a house one week. I forget which week that was. Phoenix maybe?

Know him well. He lives on the island.

Q. What stands out about him?

ZACH JOHNSON: Cool cat. He's one that when he gets it going to can go quick. He's kind of a feel player to some degree, especially with the putter. He is actually a really good putter as a whole.

You know, to me, from my view point, his game hasn't changed much in the short time out here so far. He won Wyndham I think. Did he win one or two?

Q. Wyndham is the only one. Last at Barbasol in the playoff last year.

ZACH JOHNSON: Oh, okay. He's good. He's very good. He's a rhythmic player. There is a lot of fluidity to it. When it goes, it can go just because his putter is really, really good. Even when it's average it's really good.

Q. What makes him go? What's he like off the course?

ZACH JOHNSON: Very, very chill. I think the beauty of J.T. -- and there are a lot of guys like him -- never gets too high with the highs or too low with the lows. He just kind of stays pretty steady.

Like everybody, we're competitors and frustrated when we're going south, and we're ecstatic when we're going north. He just stays right here. I don't think emotion is something that he really has to worry about a whole lot. I think that's a good thing. Whatever you want to call that amotional or emotionless, I think in any sport, to some degree, can be very useful. He's not a rah, rah guy, right? He's hot someone that's going to amp up the crowd. The crowd might amp him up internally. I'd have no idea. But he ain't going to amp them up. He's not quite Jason Dufner, but he's close. (Laughter)

Q. Early in the week you were talking about youngsters in this field being guys that we may not know yet but we will.

ZACH JOHNSON: Sure.

Q. You played with Patrick today.

ZACH JOHNSON: Yeah.

Q. Assess his game. What did you see out of him today?

ZACH JOHNSON: I mean, it's 18 holes. It's hard for me to say. The man played really solid. If he got himself in trouble it was either -- could have been a bad swing, but it was a miss-club or something of that nature which we all do, and he was able to right the ship.

His putter, he had seven putts going into the 18th hole on the last nine holes. Seven putts, so I'll get you do the math on that one. It was very impressive. But, you know, again, it's 18 holes.

Now, that being said, I made mention that he's -- I think he said he's tried nine on ten Monday qualifiers and got in five. That's four spots. That ain't easy.

I kind of felt like I was in the way at times so I just tried to get out of the way. We've all been there. We don't want to get in -- whoever has it going you just kind of stick to your business, but make sure you can allow that individual to work in proper spaces.

So it was very impressive.

Q. Your words proved prophetic with the youngsters who worked their way up to the top of leaderboard this week.

ZACH JOHNSON: Yeah, I mean, I'm not -- I don't know about prophetic. That's a strong word. There is a lot of time left. What I'm saying is the guys that are here, whether they win or not, at some point they're going to win a lot, not just this week.

You're not going to be a household name over one week. But there is kids here, whether fresh out of college or youngsters on tour, that will be playing in Cups, will be long-tenured players on the PGA Tour.

Q. Get over to Scotland early or what is the plan?

ZACH JOHNSON: That's a great question. I think my flight is a week from today. I don't really recall. Did it so long ago. Going to go spend the 4th with my family.

Q. Thoughts on Clair Peterson, what he's meant to you and this tournament.

ZACH JOHNSON: Hard to summarize. I thought I did a pretty good job of that on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday. He's the man. He's a friend more than anything. Certainly a confidant in this game for me. He's a guy that represents that green and yellow to the enth agree as well, and I think he's a guy that any and every decision they make here it's selfless. It's not for him. It's not for -- it's for players, for the fans, and most importantly for this community.

So I think the Quad Cities, I don't want to say they're in debt to him, but they need to applaud him as best they can.