MORE INTERVIEWS: Crowne Plaza Invitational transcript archive
Q. Birdies on the day out there, Zach, apparently it's not just Australians and Texas guys that could play good in the wind?
ZACH JOHNSON: I don't mind the wind. You know, I'm not saying I particular care for it. The wind on Sunday, when you are trying to make some ground up, is always kind of interesting. Specifically on this golf course. This golf course demands control off the tees and obviously your second shot. I'm very pleased. I had a lot of opportunities out there, one mishap, and I probably had the best round of the day.
Q. It just happens. Birdies at 1 and 2, those things can be expected on a golf course like this. Tell me about the birdie on 3, the first hole of the horrible horseshoe?
ZACH JOHNSON: Yes, thanks. I had a good tee shot there. I had a good number. I judged the wind correctly. A 7 iron in there about 183, 182. I hit it barely on the green to about a foot and a half. That was a gift. That's a hole where when someone gives you a 4, you will probably take it more times than not. It was a good start.
Q. It's funny you say you judged the wind correctly, tell me what these guys expect coming in on the back 9 because the winds vary intermittently. When that happens it swirls?
ZACH JOHNSON: Yes, you got to be patient. You got to be patient. You have to trust your compass and trust your read. There are certain pins that you have to be conservative. 20 feet left or right of the hole, it's a great shot. These greens are holding still. So you can be aggressive as far as your distances, but your lines got to be a little more conservative because of the wind and stuff. You give yourself 15, 20 footers out here, you can make the putts. I mean it's proven. It will be interesting to see. I think the guy that comes out on top won't back into it. He will probably win it.
Q. Well, 5 under 65, that's the round of the day so far on a Sunday. Great playing, Zach.
ZACH JOHNSON: Thank you, I appreciate it.
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Q. (Inaudible)?
ZACH JOHNSON: I don't know if I have it figured out. But I certainly enjoyed it. I think you can read too much into it. You can try to pick it apart too much rather than playing your own game. At the same time you're afraid not to take Colonial for what it is. It is a carving golf course. It is a course where you have to hit conservative shots. The greens are receptive enough you can be conservative and make the putts. It's also aggressive. They are also receptive when there is no wind. It depends on the wind. The Colonial is the epitome of a wind based golf course. That's why I love it.
Q. The first two rounds are rounds you are going to look back at?
ZACH JOHNSON: Yes, all three. I made some stupid bogeys, some dumb bogeys. 3 putted from 20 feet, things of that nature. That's golf. I had some momentum coming into this week. It just didn't pan out early on in the week. I got no regrets, no disappointments. I always like to finish strong on Sunday, and the last three Sundays I played really, really well and put some good numbers up.