Des Moines Register Staff Blogs » Golf

Iowa State golfer Scott Fernandez to play in 2013 Palmer Cup

Des Moines Register — Mon, 22 Apr 2013 17:51:14 +0000

FROM IOWA STATE SPORTS INFORMATION: AMES, Iowa – Iowa State sophomore golfer Scott Fernandez is one of eight players representing Europe at the 2013 Palmer Cup, announced today by the Golf Coaches Association of America (GCAA). The Ryder Cup-style event will be played June 7-9 at Wilmington Country Club in Wilmington, Del. The Palmer Cup [...]

Bryce Miller’s 3 for 3: The player who will influence tonight’s Louisville-Michigan game most

Bryce Miller — Mon, 08 Apr 2013 16:38:12 +0000

The 3 for 3 blog hits a talented freshman, fairways and the future … == 1: TITLE GAME’S X-FACTOR — Watching the run of Michigan in the NCAA Tournament convinced me that freshman Mitch McGary leads the country in a stat that is yet to exist. Tip-outs. In the national semifinals against Syracuse, McGary kept possessions [...]

Bryce Miller’s 3 for 3: Shawn Johnson tries hand at being Zach Johnson — and Buc talks Blackhawks

Bryce Miller — Mon, 04 Mar 2013 17:13:40 +0000

The 3 for 3 blog, checking out a gold-medal golf swing … == 1: FAMOUS NEIGHBORS — Following a ceremony Friday at the Iowa Hall of Pride, Shawn Johnson made a quick pit-stop to try another sport with a famous Iowa neighbor. Johnson was at the facility to receive the Robert D. Ray Pillar of [...]

Bryce Miller’s 3 for 3: Chad Greenway, Manning brothers hang out by Pro Bowl pool

Bryce Miller — Mon, 04 Feb 2013 13:42:17 +0000

The 3 for 3 blog, swim trunks and all … == 1: HEARD AROUND THE PRO BOWL POOL — Two-time Pro Bowl pick Chad Greenway of the Minnesota Vikings learned something during his second lap in Hawaii. Greenway, a linebacker who starred at Iowa, said the pool at the players’ hotel belongs to those named [...]

Bryce Miller’s 3 for 3: The ‘best’ list – Tiger Woods, Big Ten women’s hoops, central Iowa sports

Bryce Miller — Tue, 29 Jan 2013 15:51:21 +0000

The 3 for 3 blog, with a nod to the links … == 1: TIGER BEING TIGER — By winning the weather-delayed Farmers Insurance Open on Monday, Tiger Woods reminded us just how incredible his career has been — and continues to be. Woods won for the 75th time on the PGA Tour to move [...]

Bryce Miller’s 3 for 3: Breaking baby news and an Iowa football stat stunner

Bryce Miller — Thu, 08 Nov 2012 18:34:19 +0000

The “3 for 3” blog rolls into Thursday … 1: KAEDING’S SILVER LINING … When kicker Nate Kaeding recently was cut by the NFL’s San Diego Chargers, it provided one bit of good timing. Kaeding and his wife, Samantha, welcomed their third child to the world on Saturday, when 8-pound, 4-ounce Tess was born. The [...]

Bryce Miller’s 3 for 3: Sports democracy in action … Who would you elect Gov. or President?

Bryce Miller — Tue, 06 Nov 2012 16:24:16 +0000

The “3 for 3” blog unveils its Election Day Edition. Voting, of course, is the focus today — at the polls, and here. No across-the-aisle bickering or judicial retention questions here. Just your sports thoughts on the red, white and blue-est day of the year. If you’ve got ideas or thoughts, exercise your free speech [...]

Zach Johnson succeeds despite a Medinah meltdown

Rick Brown — Mon, 01 Oct 2012 01:25:56 +0000

Medinah, Ill. – Zach Johnson was sitting greenside with his wife, Kim, at Medinah’s 17th hole, waiting for Jason Dufner to finish his Ryder Cup singles match Sunday afternoon. They were both tuned into a radio, listening as Jim Furyk stood over an eight-foot putt for a par to halve his match with Sergio Garcia. [...]

Sunday at the Ryder Cup: Fluff’s William Penn roots

Rick Brown — Sun, 30 Sep 2012 15:46:50 +0000

Medinah, Ill.- Phil Mickelson played in his ninth Ryder Cup this weekend, more than anyone else on the American team. But he didn’t have senority inside the ropes. That honor goes to a guy who played golf at William Penn in 1969 and 1970. He went by Mike Cowan then. He’s better known as Fluff [...]

Friday at the Ryder Cup: Father Knows Best

Rick Brown — Fri, 28 Sep 2012 20:50:59 +0000

Medinah, Ill. – When Jason Dufner made a 20-footer for birdie on the 10th green Friday, Dr. David Johnson held nothing back. “Yea, yea,” screamed the Cedar Rapids, Ia., chiropractor. “USA, USA.” The putt gave Dufner and Zach Johnson, David’s son, a 1-up lead over Lee Westwood and Francesco Molinari in their Ryder Cup [...]

Thursday at the Ryder Cup: Ryan Lord’s inspiring story [with video]

Rick Brown — Thu, 27 Sep 2012 17:18:58 +0000

Medinah, Ill. –Ryan Lord had a face-to-face meeting with United States Ryder Cup captain Davis Love III on Thursday. Lord passed on some advice. “That’s between us,” Lord said. Lord, 30, a retired Marine from Davenport, Ia., who was injured less than a month after this country’s initial invasion into Iraq in 2003, arrived at [...]

Wednesday at the Ryder Cup: Who plays, who sits?

Rick Brown — Wed, 26 Sep 2012 19:21:13 +0000

Medinah, Ill. – Zach Johnson and Jason Dufner were paired together in a practice session for the second straight day Wednesday at the Ryder Cup, adding to speculation that they were be teamed up in either Foursomes or Fourball competition later this week. “Are we going to play together?” Johnson said. “I would assume, but [...]

Tuesday at the Ryder Cup (update): Zach and Dolph

Rick Brown — Tue, 25 Sep 2012 16:54:03 +0000

Medinah, Ill. -Zach Johnson was walking down Medinah’s 10th fairway Tuesday, preparing for his third Ryder Cup appearance, when he saw a familiar face in his gallery. It was Gary Dolphin, the play-by-play voice of Iowa football and basketball. They had a quick discussion about Iowa football – Johnson, an Iowa native, is a [...]

The Principal at Wakonda: Challenges ahead

Rick Brown — Wed, 29 Aug 2012 14:22:44 +0000

And now the work starts. The Wakonda Club in Des Moines will host the Principal Charity Classic starting in 2013, but several challenges must be hurdled before the world’s best senior golfers arrive in town the last week of May. The biggest questions on the table: Wakonda’s driving range is not regulation length. What to [...]

One swing nearly sent Johnson packing at the Barclays

Rick Brown — Fri, 24 Aug 2012 23:03:58 +0000

One swing almost sent Zach Johnson packing Friday at the Barclays, the opening PGA Tour playoff event in the race for the FedEx Cup. Johnson had just birdied the par-5 7th hole to get back to 1 over par for the day, and 2 under for the championship, in the second round. The swing came [...]

Johnson, the forgotten man, off to good start at Barclays

Rick Brown — Thu, 23 Aug 2012 18:08:21 +0000

Zach Johnson was the forgotten man in Thursday’s primo first-round pairing at the Barclays. Johnson was paired with Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy. All the talk on Golf Channel Wednesday evening was about the Tiger-Rory partnership. You’d have thought they played a twosome Thursday at Bethpage Black. It was the first time McIlroy and Woods [...]

Zach Johnson paired with Tiger Woods, Rory McIlroy at Barclays

Rick Brown — Tue, 21 Aug 2012 20:27:11 +0000

Zach Johnson has played with Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy before, but never at the same time. That will happen Thursday in the first round of the Barclays, the first event in the PGA Tour’s playoff series. The Barclays, as well as the other four playoff events, traditionally pair the top three players in the [...]

Johnson’s rough day at PGA includes self-imposed penalty

Rick Brown — Mon, 13 Aug 2012 15:33:04 +0000

Zach Johnson had a tough final day at the PGA Championship. When the weather-delayed third round was completed Sunday morning, Johnson finished bogey-double bogey for a round of 76. He made triple bogey on the 18th hole in the final round, and that included as self-imposed penalty stroke. Johnson thought his ball moved after he [...]

Johnson paired with world No. 1, Luke Donald, in PGA Championship

Rick Brown — Fri, 03 Aug 2012 22:37:19 +0000

Iowa native Zach Johnson has been paired with Luke Donald, No. 1 in the latest World Golf Rankings, and Brandt Snedeker for the first two rounds of the PGA Championship next week at Kiawah Island, S.C. The three will tee off at 12:30 p.m. (Iowa time) in Thursday’s first round and 7:20 a.m. in Friday’s [...]

Zach Johnson says Firestone feels like home

Rick Brown — Wed, 01 Aug 2012 19:05:27 +0000

Zach Johnson hopes to continue his strong season and Ryder Cup run at this week’s World Golf Championships-Bridgestone Invitational at Firestone Country Club in Akron, Ohio. One thing going for Johnson heading into Thursday’s first round is the fact that Firestone feels like home. “I don’t know what it is, but I really enjoy this [...]

“Fresh Prince’s” Carlton Banks tees it up for Zach Johnson

Rick Brown — Mon, 30 Jul 2012 18:45:44 +0000

Cedar Rapids, Ia. – Alfonso Ribeiro, born in New York City and currently living in Los Angeles, is about to become a transplanted Iowan. Best known for his role as Carlton Banks in the long-running NBC sitcom “The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air,” Ribeiro’s fiancé, Angie Unkrich, is from Swedesburg, south of Iowa City on Highway [...]

Zach Johnson’s British Open rollercoaster

Rick Brown — Sun, 22 Jul 2012 20:32:13 +0000

Zach Johnson’s wild ride ended today with a final-round 75 and tie for ninth at the British Open. “Roller-coaster week,” Johnson tweeted to his Twitter followers (@ZachJohnsonPGA). “Low, high, low, high. Guess I didn’t need to tee off.” The Iowa native and Drake grad was paired with Ernie Els, who rallied with a 4-under-par 32 [...]

Zach Johnson talks round-saving doublebreaker, 66 in British Open

Rick Brown — Sat, 21 Jul 2012 21:43:15 +0000

It wasn’t perfect. Zach Johnson had two bogeys Saturday. But he also had six birdies and shot a third-round 66, the lowest round of the day, in the third round of the British Open. The Iowa native heads into today’s final round in a tie for fifth place at 5-under 205. Johnson made a saving [...]

Bender shares insight behind Johnson’s John Deere win.

Rick Brown — Wed, 18 Jul 2012 12:34:25 +0000

Mike Bender relished the opportunity to caddy for Zach Johnson at last week’s John Deere Classic. But Bender, like Johnson an Iowa native, found value in the experience beyond the thrill of victory. One of the nation’s Top 50 instrtuctors, Bender wrote this piece for the PGA of America. For the true golfer, it is [...]

Tom Watson gives Zach Johnson’s caddy a lift

Rick Brown — Mon, 16 Jul 2012 01:25:13 +0000

Silvis, Ill. – Zach Johnson and Damon Green were reunited again Sunday night in the Quad Cities, thanks to Tom Watson. Green, Zach Johnson’s fulltime caddy, and Watson played in the U.S. Senior Open at Indianwood Country Club in Lake Orion, Mich. Watson was granted permission to join the John Deere Classic’s non-stop charter flight [...]

John Deere Classic: Lovemark (son of a Drake hoopster) shoots 64

Rick Brown — Sat, 14 Jul 2012 19:02:20 +0000

Silvis, Ill. – Jamie Lovemark is playing a tournament within a tournament this week at the John Deere Classic. The son of former Drake basketball player Gary Lovemark needs to make $280,139 this week to maintain his conditional status on the PGA Tour. That translates to a solo third-place finish. He needs more than $500,000 [...]

Waukee’s Proehl leaves John Deere on high note [watch video]

Rick Brown — Fri, 13 Jul 2012 21:31:56 +0000

Silvis, Ill. – Chad Proehl said goodbye to the John Deere Classic on a positive note Friday. The pro from Sugar Creek golf course in Waukee, Ia., missed the cut, but he shot a 4-under-par 31 on his final nine, the front nine at TPC Deere Run, for a 69. “I couldn’t put 18 [...]

Ferentz, headcovers and birdies at the John Deere Classic

Rick Brown — Thu, 12 Jul 2012 20:22:43 +0000

Silvis, Ill. – Zach Johnson added a new touch to his golf bag Thursday. The Titleist headcover for his utility club was replaced with a Hawkeye headcover. “Just for (Thursday),” Johnson said. Thursday was “Iowa Hawkeye Day” at the John Deere Classic. A tent located between the 8th green and 9th tee, complete with Tiger [...]

John Deere Classic: Follow Rick Brown’s updates on Twitter

Rick Brown — Thu, 12 Jul 2012 16:29:57 +0000

You can follow Des Moines Register staff writer Rick Brown on Twitter at /RickBrownDMR

Wednesday at the John Deere Classic

Rick Brown — Wed, 11 Jul 2012 18:28:35 +0000

Silvis, Ill. – Steve Stricker finds his success at the John Deere Classic a touch ironic. “I love to deer hunt, and the first thing I see when I walk in from the parking lot every day is this big, huge deer out in front of the clubhouse. And I kind of chuckled at it [...]

Johnson sees advantages to “new’ caddy at Deere

Rick Brown — Tue, 10 Jul 2012 17:28:10 +0000

Silvis, Ill. – Zach Johnson will have a new caddy this week at the John Deere Classic. Mike Bender, his swing coach, will take over for Damon Green, who is playing in the U.S. Senior Open. “He’s going to start on my golf bag,” Johnson said. “I hope he finishes on my golf bag.” Bender, [...]

Zach Johnson Foundation Pro-Am adds players

Rick Brown — Mon, 09 Jul 2012 23:47:56 +0000

CEDAR RAPIDS, Ia. – Bo Van Pelt and Scott Stallings have been added to the lineup for the second annual Zach Johnson Foundation golf outing, which takes place July 30 at Elmcrest Country Club in Cedar Rapids. They join former British Open champ Stewart Cink, Kyle Stanley, Ben Crane and Johnson Wagner among PGA Tour [...]

Des Moines Golf and C.C. has Principal offer

Rick Brown — Wed, 27 Jun 2012 23:37:24 +0000

The Des Moines Golf and Country Club has received a proposal from Principal Financial Group to host the Principal Charity Classic golf tournament, an annual stop on the Champions Tour. That proposal is scheduled to be discussed at a Des Moines Golf and Country Club board meeting Thursday evening. Principal is looking for a host [...]

Bermel qualifies for major, Proehl hopes to follow suit

Rick Brown — Wed, 27 Jun 2012 12:12:01 +0000

John Bermel had the thrill of a golfing lifetime in 1994 when he played a practice round with Arnold Palmer the Tuesday before the start of the PGA Championship at Southern Hills in Tulsa, Okla. Bermel, the men’s and women’s golf coach at Northern Iowa and the head pro at Pheasant Ridge in Cedar Falls, [...]

Where will the 2013 Principal Charity Classic land?

Rick Brown — Tue, 19 Jun 2012 21:00:51 +0000

So just where will the Principal Charity Classic land in 2013? Two major championships have been hosted in Greater Des Moines – the 1963 U.S. Amateur at the Wakonda Club and the 1999 U.S. Senior Open at the Des Moines Golf and Country Club. From an experience standpoint, they would be at the head of [...]

Tell us your thoughts on Principal Charity Classic not being played at Glen Oaks

Des Moines Register — Tue, 19 Jun 2012 15:21:38 +0000

Golfer Nate McCoy named Iowa State’s male athlete of the year

Des Moines Register — Thu, 07 Jun 2012 14:57:26 +0000

From Iowa State University: AMES, Iowa – Iowa State golfer Nate McCoy has earned his share of awards and honors in his record-setting senior season on the links in 2011-12. He just added another to his resume today. An All-Big 12 First-Team selection and a Ping All-Central Region pick, the Iowa State Athletics Department named [...]

Haas, father and son, win in 2012

Rick Brown — Mon, 04 Jun 2012 00:25:03 +0000

Just two father-son tandems have won tournaments on the Champions Tour and PGA Tour in the same year. Bob and David Duval did it in 1999. Jay and Bill Haas did it in 2011. And now 2012, to make them the first twosome to do it twice. Bill won the Northern Trust Open on the [...]

Principal Charity Classic: Follow Rick Brown’s tweets during today’s final round

Rick Brown — Sun, 03 Jun 2012 12:34:35 +0000

Rick Brown — the Register’s golf reporter — will keep you up to date as the PGA Champions Tour event ends today at Glen Oaks Country Club throughout the tournament.

Simpson recalls U.S. Open title 25 years ago at Olympic

Rick Brown — Sat, 02 Jun 2012 15:22:31 +0000

Can it really be 25 years ago? “Doesn’t feel that long,” Scott Simpson said. “Quite a while, though.” Simpson, playing in the Principal Charity Classic this week, won the U.S. Open 25 years ago at the Olympic Club in San Francisco, Calif. This year’s Open will return to Olympic Club June 14-17. “Yes, it’s a [...]

Principal Charity Classic: Follow Rick Brown’s tweets during today’s second round

Rick Brown — Sat, 02 Jun 2012 11:20:03 +0000

Rick Brown — the Register’s golf reporter — will keep you up to date as the PGA Champions Tour event is being played at Glen Oaks Country Club throughout the tournament.

Ryder Cup Kenny Perry’s career highlight

Rick Brown — Fri, 01 Jun 2012 23:25:45 +0000

The Ryder Cup comes to Medinah outside Chicago, Ill., on Sept. 28-30. The last time the biennial competition was played in the states was 2008, at Valhalla Golf Club in Louisville, Ky. Valhalla represents the best and worst of memories for Kenny Perry, who made his Principal Charity Classic debut by shooting 68 Friday at [...]

Principal Charity Classic: Follow Rick Brown’s tweets during today’s first round

Rick Brown — Fri, 01 Jun 2012 12:00:12 +0000

Rick Brown — the Register’s golf reporter — will keep you up to date as the PGA Champions Tour event is being played at Glen Oaks Country Club from today through Sunday.

Hale Irwin spins some Sam Snead stories

Rick Brown — Thu, 31 May 2012 18:24:08 +0000

Hale Irwin was sitting in the locker room at Glen Oaks Country Club Tuesday, drinking a milkshake and watching a Golf Channel feature on Sam Snead. I asked the three-time U.S. Open champion and winner of 45 Champions Tour tournaments who was the best ageless wonder,Irwin or Snead? “Oh, Sam,” Irwin said. Snead, who would [...]

Damon Green searching for some WD-40

Rick Brown — Wed, 30 May 2012 21:25:54 +0000

In retrospect, Damon Green doesn’t know why he raked the greenside bunker on the 18th hole during Sunday’s final round of the Crowne Plaza Invitational at Colonial. “We were the last group of the day,” said Green, Zach Johnson’s PGA Tour caddy, who is playing in the Principal Charity Classic this week at Glen Oaks. [...]

Principal’s golf title sponsorship remains a mystery

Rick Brown — Tue, 29 May 2012 23:38:31 +0000

Principal Financial Group was supposed to make a “special announcement” about the Principal Charity Classic golf tournament at a news conference Tuesday evening at Prairie Meadows in Altoona. It was canceled Tuesday afternoon “due to a timing issue.” Principal was expected to make an announcement on the future of its title sponsorship of the Champions [...]

Video: Principal Charity Classic golfer interviews

Rick Brown — Tue, 29 May 2012 15:25:20 +0000

Rick Brown and Tommy Birch of The Des Moines Register talk with golfers before and during this week’s Principal Charity Classic.

Zach Johnson, Damon Green head in different directions

Rick Brown — Mon, 28 May 2012 15:19:23 +0000

While Zach Johnson returned home to Georgia to celebrate his eighth career PGA Tour victory, his caddy went in a different direction. Damon Green flew to Des Moines Sunday night, hours after helping his man win a second Crowne Plaza Invitational at Colonial title in Fort Worth, Texas. Green was at Glen Oaks in West [...]

Twitter universe celebrates with Zach Johnson

Rick Brown — Mon, 28 May 2012 03:10:30 +0000

The Twitter universe was singing Zach Johnson’s (@ZachJohnsonPGA) praises Sunday, from Bubba Watson to Adam Woodbury. Johnson received congratulations aplenty after his eighth career victory at the Crowne Plaza Invitational at Colonial Sunday in Fort Worth, Texas. “Congrats,” tweeted Masters champion Bubba Watson (@bubbawatson). And there was Woodbury (@adamwoodbury), the Iowa basketball recruit from Sioux [...]

“Zach Attack” returns to Colonial

Rick Brown — Thu, 24 May 2012 20:42:34 +0000

The Colonial Country Club outside Fort Worth, Texas, is nicknamed Hogan’s Alley. It’s where Ben Hogan won five times. Some guy from Iowa is doing a pretty good job of playing his way around one of Hogan’s favorite courses as well. Zach Johnson shot a 6-under-par 64 in the first round of the Crowne Plaza [...]