Caitlin Clark played with Zach Johnson last year (Image: Getty)
Zach Johnson jokingly asked: “Can my wife hear this?” after Caitlin Clark dubbed him funny at last year’s tournament. The 48-year-old pro was teamed up with Rookie of the Year Clark for her last nine holes at TPC Deere Run in Silvis, Illinois, last July – with the Indiana Fever star sharing her front nine with Ludvig Aberg.
And the basketball star stole the show at the event, with flocks of fans following her around for the full 18 to see how she fared on the fairways and greens as opposed to the hard-floored courts of stadiums and arenas. Always one to give praise when it’s due, Clark was quick to compliment Johnson’s wit throughout the competition.
Speaking to media at the event, she explained: “First of all, Zach’s pretty funny. I’ll give him that, he’s a pretty funny guy,” to which the taken-aback golfer jested: “Really?! My wife – can she hear that?”
Laughing, Clark added: “He’s pretty funny. We worked on my chipping a little bit, leaning more weight on my front foot.” Reflecting on what he’d learned from Clark on the course, Johnson added: “We both hate the portal, figured that out. The portal does no one any good.”
Still laughing, Clark added: “You’re funny,” before adding: “He’s trying to recruit for us. He’s our new biggest advocate – Zach Johnson.” Johnson joked: “I’m making deals for Caitlin. I figured it out, she’s got at least three years of eligibility left,” with Clark laughing: “He talked to the NCAA.”
Johnson then jested: “I mean they can’t get anything done anyway so might as well just try to get it done now. Three years left, couple of corporate deals. Shouldn’t be a problem.”
Caitlin Clark is swapping basketball for golf once again this winter (Image: Getty)
Johnson ultimately finished T35th in the John Deere Classic last year with a total score of -10. Sepp Straka won the tournament with a blistering score of -21, two strokes ahead of Brendon Todd and Alex Smalley.
And Clark is set to return to the courses in yet another Pro-Am competition this winter, making her way to the Hosted by golfing great Annika Sorenstam, the event takes place at the Pelican Golf Club in Belleair, Florida between November 13 and 17, and will welcome a whole host of talent.
Speaking on her participation in the event, Clark said: “I love golf so the opportunity to play in the Pro-Am for a tournament with a legend like Annika Sorenstam’s name on it is so exciting.” She added: “I’m looking forward to seeing all the LPGA players on the driving range, being part of the Women’s Leadership Summit, and, of course, teeing it up in the pro-am with Annika.”
Meanwhile, Sorenstam said: “I have been following Caitlin’s career during college and now on the WNBA stage, and what she is doing to bring attention to women’s sports both on and off the court is outstanding. I’m excited to meet Caitlin and for her to join us at Pelican Golf Club in November in what will be an exciting week for women’s sports.”
Clark enjoyed a whirlwind rookie season with Indiana Fever this year, breaking an abundance of WNBA records before being named as the organisation’s Rookie of the Year – achieving 66 of the 67 total votes. She averaged 19.2 points per game this season, as well as a league-high 8.4 assists and 5.7 rebounds per game.
The University of Iowa graduate also set new records for assists in a single season (337), a league-high 122 three-pointers becoming the fastest female in history to break the 100 three-pointer mark, recording two triple-doubles and scored the most points from her position as a point guard in a single season.