JOHN DEERE CLASSIC

July 7, 2023

Zach Johnson

TPC Deere Run

Press Conference

THE MODERATOR: Yesterday you were here for not probably as elevated in spirit as you are, I hope, today. Did you get Wordle in two last night?

ZACH JOHNSON: Three.

THE MODERATOR: Good round today. A few comments about today.

ZACH JOHNSON: Thank you. Yeah, today was more solid. Much more solid. I put a lot of great work in after my round yesterday on the range.

Actually, I think the director of golf/head pro here might have helped me with some golf club maneuvering that was really good. I'm not suggesting that's why, but I'm just saying it really helped. Thank you, Mitch.

I felt more confident on the greens. I made some -- shoot, man, I could have shot really low today. I missed so many putts and burned so many edges. Lipped out three or four times as well.

Hit one errant shot that cost me on 3, but other than that it was a very solid day and indicative of how I've been playing.

THE MODERATOR: How much does a round like this do for you mentally? Obviously you always want to play well. How much does this mean?

ZACH JOHNSON: I've had a lot of these as of late. I just haven't pieced my whole week together. Now my goal is to make a run this weekend and keep moving up the board, but yeah, there's confidence that comes with it.

I put in a lot of great work. My coaches have put in a lot of great work. My team at PXG has put a lot of great work in.

It's a team effort, and so I feel like with the momentum I have and now starting to see my putts drop a little bit, I feel like I can really do some cool things in the game.

So I've got a few different hats I'm wearing out here at this point in my career, but number one, I still want to compete, and I feel like I can have some really good golf in front of me.

Q. Kirk Ferentz was out there with you today. What was it like to have head ball coach out there?

ZACH JOHNSON: He is the coach. Amazing. I feel like at this point now given his tenure at the University of Iowa and certainly my fandom for everything Hawkeye it's -- that's where I was born, shoot, in Iowa City.

Having him come out here and some of his family and some other friends is special. They're busy. I mean, very busy. I know I'm busy, and I think they're busier than I am.

Very kind. Just so appreciate how they go about their work and what that program is all about. I think it's indicative of what the State of Iowa is all about.