Drives, Links & Other Road Trip and/or Golfing Stories

EXIT OF THE DAY: Exit 26  I-95n  to Spiney Bluff, GA.
Hear this here:

On your right, you're passing the Sanctuary Golf Club.  What with the all year climate, the varied terrain and the presence of The Master’s Tournament up at Augusta, it’s no surprise that Golf is huge all over Georgia.  Locally several Pro golfers have hung up their woods and called the region home. 

Cross jump to the British Open in 2018. As written by the Des Moines Register newspaper, “There was a loud gasp in the media  room just off the first tee at the British Open, where a good number of assembled reporters were waiting for Tiger Woods to talk after his round..."

"A television in the corner of the room was airing live coverage and suddenly the conversation from Woods’ 5-under 67 switched to Zach Johnson’s bomb of an eagle putt at the par-5 sixth hole. Suddenly, Tiger Woods knew that sinking feeling.”

The Golf Icon had reason to fear the less famous Zach Johnson.  An Iowa native, Zach maybe naturally gravitated to Georgia since he won his first Pro Championship here. Zach won his first Tour event at the 2004 BellSouth Classic outside of Atlanta.  He followed that up with another major win on Georgia greens. On Easter Sunday April eight, 2008, Johnson won his first major title. He put on the green blazer at the Masters Tournament in Augusta. He won the tournament by a margin of two strokes over the runner up. That contender was Tiger Woods.  


After winning, Zach thanked God, saying: "This being Easter, I cannot help but believe my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ was walking with me. I owe this to Him.”   


Zach must feel closer to God in Georgia; he, his wife, their daughter and their two boys now live on the coastal island of Saint Simon’s. ​

​But Zach is not the only pro golfer in the neighborhood. Therefore he does not lack for competition in his daily rounds. Other notable professional golfers owning Saint Simons  real estate include Davis Love III, Matt Kuchar, and Jonathan Byrd.


With practice rounds with players like that, much less Phil Michelson and Tiger Woods --  plus a little boost from the Man upstairs, Zach Johnson is sure to win again -- Tiger Woods notwithstanding.


#TigerWoods #ZachJohnson #Bellclassic #TheMasters #PGATour
#Augusta #DesMoinesRegister

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