MEDINAH, Illinois, Aug 14 - Zach Johnson has a Ryder Cup dilemma going
into this week's U.S. PGA Championship at Medinah Country Club.
The 30-year-old American is uncertain whether he should keep one eye on
qualifying for next month's team competition while he plays in the final major
of the year.
"That's something I've been battling with," Johnson told Reuters on Monday as
he prepared for Thursday's opening round.
"But I think you have to think about it because it is one of your goals and
those are good things to think about. Yet, at the same time, you've got to put
it aside and get down to business.
"What's challenging and what I am relishing is the fact that it is in my
mind. l've probably got to put it aside. I've got to work hard and just focus on
the present rather than the future."
Johnson is ninth in the U.S. Cup standings with the top 10 at the end of this
week automatically qualifying for the September 22-24 Ryder Cup at the K Club in
Ireland.
However, his place is by no means certain and positions six to 10 in the
table could change dramatically on Sunday.
Bob Tway, who languishes 103rd in the standings, would rocket into the top 10
should he triumph this week with 675 Cup points being awarded to the player who
lifts the prized Wanamaker Trophy.
Johnson wasted a chance to all but secure his spot at last week's
International when he slipped back into a tie for 13th after holding the lead
going into Sunday's final round.
NO REGRETS
He has no regrets, though, over his performance at Castle Pines Golf Club in
Colorado.
"The Ryder Cup is definitely my largest goal but at the same time I really
feel like I've got one more week to earn that spot," said the Florida-based
professional, whose only PGA Tour victory came at the 2004 BellSouth Classic.
"That's my perspective. I've got another week to win a golf tournament and
I'm hoping this is the week.
"I played well at the International but, when it comes down to it, I had an
opportunity to win and I just didn't perform the way I needed to perform at the
end.
"I'm going to learn from it," added Johnson, who never recovered from a
double bogey on his first hole in the final round and finished with 26 points,
one fewer than he started the day.
Having narrowly missed out on Presidents Cup selection last year, Johnson is
desperate to make his Ryder Cup debut.
"It would be huge," he said. "I wanted to make that team last year really bad
but the Ryder Cup is the Ryder Cup.
"It's probably the largest event in golf as far I am
concerned."
