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By Greg Hardwig
Naples Daily News
 | | Johnson: "It's one of those events that -- I mean, even as a kid I watched it every year and I knew about it." |
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2007 Masters champion Zach Johnson is taking advantage of the opportunities brought by wearing the green jacket.
Being invited by tournament host Greg Norman to play in this week's Franklin Templeton Shootout, an unofficial PGA Tour event at Tiburón Golf Club, is one of them.
"Well, it's one of those events that -- I mean, even as a kid I watched it every year and I knew about it," Johnson said. "Heck, even back then I thought it was an official tour event because it's such a big event, even though it's on the outside of our full season.
"So it is an honor and a privilege to play in this. I'm glad it worked out in my schedule, especially when you have a personal invite from arguably one of the top golfers of all-time in Mr. Norman. It's hard not to take advantage of it. So I feel very fortunate to be here."
Johnson is paired with good friend Stewart Cink in the 19th edition of the offseason tournament that features 12 two-man teams playing modified alternate shot, best ball and scramble over three days on the layout Norman designed.
"This is one where obviously we've got some of the best players in the world playing, and we're playing our own ball here and there and relying on our partners here and there, but we're going to have fun," he said. "We will because we're good friends. If we can't have fun we're not going to play well."
Jerry Kelly and Rod Pampling are back to defend their title. The self-dubbed "pit bulls" were thrown together last year, with Pampling replacing Peter Jacobsen, who had undergone hip replacement surgery. While they became friends, it didn't turn into something where they ended up playing together a lot on tour.
"I don't think we even played this year," Kelly said. "I think I hardly even saw you, period."
"I know," Pampling said. "It's amazing how that works. Next year, we'll probably play with each other five or six times and see each other every week. This year, I couldn't even tell you which golf course I saw Jerry at. It's bizarre."
And John Daly and Fred Couples are paired together for the first time.
Couples, who took off most of the season due to back troubles, returned to play in the LG Skins Game over Thanksgiving weekend and finished second. He's won this event three times, but not since it moved to Naples starting in 2001.
"We don't need to go hit the ball pure for three days," Couples said. "We just need to play our games, and we make a lot of birdies."
Norman originally was partnered with Steve Stricker, who withdrew for family reasons. Stricker has been replaced by Bubba Watson, who won the tour's driving distance title for the second straight year and finished 55th on the money list.
But he's hardly played this year. Norman has been excited helping his 22-year-old son, Gregory, a senior at the University of Miami who just recently has taken to the game. The two played together at the Del Webb Father-Son Challenge last week near Orlando, and Gregory will caddie for his dad this week.
"I don't worry about myself anymore, or my game, like I did 10 years ago," Norman said. "I'd rather see my son get the enjoyment and satisfaction out of it, and the improvement out of it."
Other former champions in the field are Norman, Steve Elkington, Scott McCarron, Brad Faxon, Kenny Perry, Mark Calcavecchia, Jeff Sluman and Mark O'Meara. Faxon and McCarron, who aren't paired together this year, were the first to win back-to-back titles in 2000 and 2001.
Sunday's winners share $700,000 out of the $2.8-million purse. This is Merrill Lynch's second year as title sponsor.
The tournament will be on The Golf Channel on Friday, with NBC showing it Saturday and Sunday for the first time, replacing normal network partner CBS.
"This year seems like it's more relaxing and enjoyable," Norman said of his tournament. "I don't know how to put it in the right words, but it seems like it's elevated itself for whatever reason.
"Whether it's that Merrill Lynch is getting more comfortable with us, whether it's the new sponsors ... NBC, (I) had a couple of people come around and say this is the best golf course they have ever televised in South Florida, any of their Florida courses."
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