Johnson finds little home comfort in Deere Classic

The Associated Press

Published Friday, July 13, 2007

A woman had a request for Zach Johnson as he signed autographs after his round.

"Remember us as you go to the British Open," she said.

Before he heads overseas, Johnson has some business to tend to near home.

He’ll try to jump into contention in the John Deere Classic in Silvis, Ill., after falling six strokes off the first-round lead yesterday with a 1-under 70. Maybe he’ll use some of the magic that carried him to that surprising Masters victory a few months ago.

"There’s a responsibility that goes along with what’s happened," Johnson said.

For now, he just wants to put on a good show for his home crowd, and this wasn’t the start he had in mind.

While Johnson struggled, Neal Lancaster shot a 7-under 64 to grab a one-stroke lead over Duffy Waldorf, Paul Stankowski, Kenny Perry, Scott Gutschewski and Jason Dufner.

Ranked 15th in the world and the only top-45 player in the tournament, Johnson was unable to mount a run because of inconsistent putting. That explains why he called the round "very mediocre."

Given his history in the event, maybe it was no surprise Johnson had some difficulties. Although he grew up just over an hour away in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, and considers this his home event, he has never finished higher than 20th.

Lancaster was a surprise leader.

His lone PGA Tour victory was at the 1994 Byron Nelson Classic, and he said he hasn’t played well for six years. His highest finish in three tour events this year is a tie for 24th in May in the AT&T Classic, and he hit so poorly on the range Wednesday that he stopped. He didn’t bother going to the putting green all week because that part of his game deserted him years ago.

He fared well yesterday, finishing with eight birdies and one bogey - not bad for a guy with a workout regimen John Daly might have devised.

"Smoke two packs a day and have a lot of Mountain Dew," Lancaster said.

● LPGA: In Sylvania, Ohio, Se Ri Pak isn’t sure why she plays so well at the Jamie Farr Owens Corning Classic. Everyone else in the field wonders what her secret is, too.

The four-time tournament winner shot an 8-under 63 to take the first-round lead. It was the best opening round in the event’s 23-year history.

Alena Sharp was two shots back at 6-under. Only three others were within five shots of the lead, including defending champion Mi Hyun Kim.

Pak is trying to tie Mickey Wright’s tour record of five victories in one event - matched twice by Annika Sorenstam.