Zach on Sugarloaf test
by Richard Field, 14 May 2008
Defending AT&T Classic champion Zach Johnson is a big fan of the TPC Sugarloaf course which hosts this week’s PGA Tour event.
Johnson also won this tournament in 2004 and two years later was runner-up to Phil Mickelson in Duluth.
"For whatever reason, the golf course just fits my eye," Johnson said on pgatour.com.
"I think it's a target-oriented golf course, a shot-maker's course as well. But 'target-oriented' meaning you just kind of plot your way around; you hit it here and then you have to hit it here and so forth.
“There's a few holes where you can overpower it and let loose, but I think that's few and far between.”
The course will play differently this year with the continuing drought in Georgia meaning Bermuda grass, which needs less watering, has been employed in certain areas.
This means plenty of problems lie in wait for the players and the defending champion knows where things will be particularly difficult.
"Some rough that's Bermuda where the ball kind of sits up or sits down, you're going to see it's going to be more difficult, bottom line," added Johnson.
"You're going to get flyers at times and you're going to get shots where you have to wedge it out.
"I'm anxious to see how far the ball rolls on the fairway. It's going to be a good test."