RYDER CUP: THE "JOHNSON FACTOR"

The forecast for this biannual event is nasty, windy, rainy. Intuitively, one would think that would favor the Euros. Legend has it they play in the worst weather and in more spartan conditions than US players. Legend is wrong. They play links style courses in crappy weather but not US Parkland style courses in it. The K Club is about as American as a golf course gets.

Now, who is gonna play an American Style golf course in nasty weather better, some guy from Ireland who thinks seventy degrees and showers is a tough day or a kid from Cedar Rapids Iowa where horizontal snow is the norm? My vote goes to the kid from Cedar Rapids. Meet Zach Johnson. I'm not saying Zach will win four or five points. I'm saying he's symbolic of a new found American advantage, that American players actually play in worse and more diverse weather than Euros. This has been true for some years but Legend obscures it.

The American underdogs will win by about three matches (which will show up as a margin of six in the final score) and it will be good for the growth of the game.

Go, Zach!