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If Zach Johnson fails to win Masters, what part will Jesus play?

Tuesday April 8, 2008 | 05:25:20 pm 378 words, 3117 views  

If ever there was a non-story at the Masters this year, it’s defending champion Zach Johnson. The man who will be placing the Green Jacket on this year’s winner is just a footnote in Masters’ coverage that is fully Tiger Woods-centric.

If you remember your golf history, it was in 2007 that Johnson stunned Woods and the golf world by playing a remarkably steady four rounds at the suddenly brutal Augusta National course, winning his first major and marking himself down as a player to keep an eye on. Johnson won just one more time in 2007, and slowly saw his media profile dwindle.

Of course, immediately after winning at Augusta last year, Johnson - a devout Christian - gave his thanks to Jesus Christ. Madly, golf writers like myself went nuts, desperately trying to make an issue out of it. It was not to be, however, as the golf-loving public respectfully nodded to Z.J. and J.C. and went about on their way.

In 2008, however, once again golf writers like myself are playing the Jesus card, hoping to stir a little controversy and get a little Zach back in the press.

All I’m saying is this: Religion is important to many, and I respect that. However, if Jesus played in Johnson’s 2007 victory, what happens if Johnson misses the Masters cut in 2008? What part will Jesus have played? Now, I’m sure Johnson will thank Jesus anyway, because that’s just the kind of good guy he is at heart.

Personally, I think Jesus will have gotten out of it too easily. It’s time for Christian athletes to stand tall and blame Jesus for their misfortunes. It would sound even better coming from a golfer:

“Things were going great until Jesus had me pull a putt on No. 12. That Jesus, I love him, but he really killed my momentum there.”

Ok, I admit I’m not really expecting that. But I am saying that at very least, Johnson has put a lot of pressure on himself, and Jesus.

So maybe that doesn’t add up to much, but what can I say, I’m a golf writer. And creating controversy over nothing demands that a golf writer has limitless expectations. And at very least, someone may notice that Zach Johnson is the Masters defending champion.

–WKW

Permalink 4 comments

Comments, Pingbacks:

Comment from: Oui Oui Oui [Visitor]
This post is blasphemy!
PermalinkPermalink 04/09/08 @ 09:01
Comment from: Turner in Midland [Visitor]
Wolfrum. The human side of me wants to tell you that I hope someone gives you some icewater where you're headed. But, to be true to the faith, I honestly am heart broken at you're being lost as the day is long... Deep down, every human has that yearning or at least a knowledge in their heart...that there is something greater than themselves out there, a creator. Some waste their lives trying to fill that void; drugs, alcohol, sex, money, power, fame, you name it. But deep down, in only the places YOU know your mind and heart goes...you are lost and you've wondered at times, if even to yourself...."there must be more to this life than this..." You know its true. You can admit it. The bible talks about that void that is instilled into every human, God put it there. Be honest with yourself...and your profession and stop ridiculing others for their beliefs. I just hope and pray you seek and find...before you take your last breath here in this plane...
PermalinkPermalink 04/10/08 @ 00:21
Comment from: William K. Wolfrum [Member] · http://www.worldgolf.com/blogs/william.wolfrum
Turner,

Regardless of my own personal beliefs - which are much much more despised than yours - I do appreciate your comment. In all seriousness.

Bill
PermalinkPermalink 04/10/08 @ 09:43
Comment from: Alan Brookshire [Visitor]
It's unimaginable how you would ever think that God should be blamed for a professional golfer missing a putt.Furthermore, do we blame God because Satan tempted Eve to give Adam the forbidden fruit? No I don't think so...We live in an imperfect world therefore nothing will ever be perfect, Zack Johnson want make every putt and neither did Michael Jordan make every shot.Instead, Christians choose to look at the bad things or negative things in life and make some good out of it becasue we are in an imperfect world. This is called abiding by Gods word, because we understand that God uses every bad for our good and thats what makes the world a better place to live. We would rather focus on the good air that God gave us and thanking him for another day of life than to live life clinging to all the and negative things that can happen, could you imagine how carzy we would all be."And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose." Romans 8:28. This is God'swill for Zach's life and God bless him for stand firm. Amen.
PermalinkPermalink 08/10/09 @ 16:44

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William K. Wolfrum William K. Wolfrum

a WorldGolf.com Blog

WorldGolf.com's William K. Wolfrum blogs about everything in the world of golf and travel, including Michelle Wie, Lorena Ochoa, Tiger Woods and other PGA and LPGA headlines. Plus, he offers the humorous and obscure in news, politics and pop culture.