Masters champ Zach Johnson highlights field at John Deere Classic

From WorldGolf.com News Services

Following his victory at the Masters, golfer Zach Johnson vowed he wouldn't change.

While Johnson may still be the same person he was prior to winning his first major, the way he's viewed by others is an entirely different story. The number of autograph requests and the demands on his time have increased markedly since his breakthrough win at Augusta National, and he's the clear headliner for the 2007 John Deere Classic.

As the highest-ranked player in the field at TPC Deere Run - and a player with regional ties - Johnson was swarmed by fans during his practice round earlier in the week. All the attention and requests have occasionally put Johnson in the uncomfortable position of having to say no.

"It's hard," Johnson told reporters during a press conference at Silvis, Ill. "Anything that's come to the table, whether it's an autograph on the golf course or an offer to endorse this or play over here in this event ... they're all very worthy and very valid causes and requests. I can only say yes to so many."

While Johnson said the changes haven't affected his overall outlook, he said he has become a bit more of a realist.

"I'm starting to understand what goes along with it," said Johnson, who also won this year's AT&T Classic and is fifth in the FedEx Cup standings. "I'm certainly not cynical. Everything has been a positive.

"Everything has been very, very good. It's just overwhelming."

When it comes to deciding future plans, Johnson said he's had to establish priorities. For instance, the new father passed on an appearance fee to golf in Germany the week after the British Open because he felt it didn't fit his schedule.

"It's what's important to myself and then our team, starting with my family and then branching out from there," Johnson said. "I think our approach has been great. We've got things on paper, we've got kind of a good brain trust behind things, starting with my wife, of course."

Johnson said the state of his game is an unknown right now. He took 14 days off without touching a golf club after missing the cut in the Travelers Championship, not playing again until last Friday while golfing on vacation in Colorado.

"Now I'm back to reality and I've got to get it cooking here, but I like it," Johnson said. "My focus is the remainder of the season and to do that, I needed time off."

Johnson, ranked No. 15 in the world, is the only player in the tournament field ranked in the top 45. He's also the first Masters champion to compete in the John Deere Classic in the same year as winning at Augusta.

John Senden, the John Deere Classic's defending champion, said Johnson is obviously the tournament's marquee player. The two played a practice round together earlier in the week.

"He is the Masters champion and a multiple winner this year," Senden told reporters. "That is just fabulous for a player of any standard.

"And also him being almost a local player in this area, he's probably going to be a No. 1 player this week that people are probably going to - I noticed it (Tuesday) with the fans out there - they're really loving Zach being out here and playing and watching him."

Despite this being his "home" tournament, Johnson's best finish in the John Deere Classic came in 2004, when he tied for 20th. A golfer from Cedar Rapids, Iowa, Johnson grew up a little more than an hour away from TPC Deere Run.

"I want to play well here, for sure," Johnson said. "It's hard to play in front of hometown friends and family, regardless of where it is.

"I don't know why that is. I don't know if it's the golf course, or I don't know if it's just me not playing well. It's probably a mixture of both."

John Deere Classic

• Schedule: July 12-15

• Site: Silvis, Ill.

• Course: TPC Deere Run (7,255 yards, par 70)

• Purse: $4.1 million ($738,000 winner's share)

• Noteworthy: The highest top-10 finisher in the John Deere Classic, not otherwise exempt, will gain a playing spot in next week's British Open at Carnoustie.

July 12, 2007