Mike Bender appointed as Zach Johnson’s caddie after Damon Green goes for the US Senior Open
Zach Johnson’s swing coach, Mike Bender, has accepted an additional role of a caddie in the absence of his employer’s regular bagman, Damon Green. Green skipped the John Deere Classic in order to participate in the US Senior Open.
After Green left for the 50-and-over’s major event, Johnson asked his swing coach to assist him in the John Deere Classic, to which he nodded “Yes!”
“He’s going to start on my golf bag,” Johnson said. “I hope he finishes on my golf bag”.
Johnson is currently looking forward to returning to the form that once allowed him to take the Crowne Plaza Invitational title home.
Right after his victory at the Colonial Country Club, he missed the cut at the FedEx St. Jude Classic, followed by disappointing performances at the US Open and Travelers Championship. He tied for the 41st and 64th position, respectively.
Therefore, a good finish at the TPC Deere Run will provide him the confidence that he needs prior to moving to Royal Lytham for The Open Championship, the third major event of the year.
While talking about handing over a new assignment to Bender, he said that he feels comfortable being with him, as he is one of the best instructors of the world.
Moreover, Bender has three years of experience of playing golf on the PGA Tour, along with some experience as a caddie. Therefore, he can be handy during Johnson’s campaign in Illinois.
“We’ve done some little things here and there,” Johnson said. “But nothing to this magnitude. Bottom line, he knows how to play this game. He played on the tour three years, so it’s not like he’s foreign to it”.
“He’s caddied before. He knows the ins and outs, the intricacies of the game. How to carry himself, where to be. I don’t really have to worry about it”.
“Now the relationship, he and I, the communication, that’s going to have to kind of evolve,” he added.
Bender arrived at the venue for the upcoming tournament on Monday and had a quick look at the conditions and the course.
They are now planning to take a complete survey of the course after Johnson tees off in the pro-am event, scheduled on Wednesday.
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