Zach Johnson having fun as Masters begins

AUGUSTA, Ga. — As Zach Johnson headed into his 12th Masters Thursday at Augusta National the 2007 champion and reigning British Open winner held two treasured possessions — figuratively and physically — on Wednesday at Augusta National.

These of course are two of golf's greatest rewards, the Claret Jug and the green jacket. Johnson, his wife Kim, and three children Will, Wyatt and Abby Jane took photos with these winner's spoils and he joked earlier this week of what the introduction would be like between them.

'I might try to introduce (the Claret Jug) to Mr. Green Jacket, if you will,' Johnson said during his news conference Tuesday. 'That's probably a rare thing. I don't know history all that well but my guess is that doesn't happen that often. I'm sure Tiger (Woods) did it, you know, 12 times it seems like.'

What history does make clear are the select few number of winners of The Masters and the Claret Jug at St. Andrews.

It's prime company for the Cedar Rapids native between the likes of Sam Snead, Jack Nicklaus, Seve Ballesteros, Nick Faldo and Tiger Woods.

Yes, Johnson's triumph across the pond at the home of golf last summer was indeed that significant. But remember the one aspect of that victorious day that brought the Drake grad to tears, at least publicly, was when he said his family should be his legacy, not the trophy.

They were front and center with him all of Wednesday as he played the annual Par 3 Contest.

So how rewarding were these moments together walking hand-in-hand with his 'legacy?'

'It's awesome, you can't put words into it,' Johnson said. 'It's one of those situations where Augusta National, the membership allows us to come out here on this beautiful, little nine holes and do that, shake hands, hold hands with your family.'

Johnson took his youngest Abby Jane and placed her on his shoulders as he walked down the steep slope from the eighth tee-box to the green. Just one hole before, on the seventh, Johnson made an ace which was naturally followed by numerous high-fives and hugs all around.

Watch April 6, 2016

Watch @ZachJohnsonPGA make the third hole-in-one of the day on No. 7 in the Par 3 Contest. #themasters https://t.co/1G7TYy667B

— Masters Tournament (@TheMasters)

Johnson walked hand-in-hand with two of his kids around the ninth hole's pond to the green and even joked with officials that his group's shot into the back bunker must have been one of several that day. It wasn't.

'It's just special, it's already arguably the best week in golf, and then you throw (the family element) in there, it just makes it that much better,' Johnson said.

This week presents a unique new chapter in Johnson's career as it will be the first major he competes in as a 40-year-old.

There was a brief moment during his news conference Tuesday where he mentioned his age and self-deprecatingly prefaced it with 'gosh darn-it'.

It may continue to take time to sink in, but what's readily apparent is the respect and questions Johnson gets asked by younger players, even Masters rookie Kevin Kisner. The 31-year-old rising star played a practice round with Johnson earlier in the week. One that Kisner looked to glean vital veteran knowledge from.

So how did Johnson feel about this role of a somewhat elder statesman providing insight to the young guns?

'It's great, it's not like I knew everything,' Johnson said. 'So you want to help him out. They are good kids. They are good guys for the game. Why not?'

Johnson was adamant in making the distinction that although he'd won the green jacket and the Claret Jug, there's a humility that comes with it.

'There's no one player above the jacket and the jug,' Johnson said.

Knowing that perspective, how then does a humble champion from Iowa take on the challenge of trying to win a second Masters this week?

'It's being patient, it's holing putts. The conditions are going to be tough like it's supposed to be with the wind and the firmness of the greens,' Johnson told The Gazette Wednesday. 'It's just really about ball control, trajectory control, putting the ball in a place to get up and down.'

We'll soon see if Johnson's game-plan will put him in a place to make a run come Sunday at one of sport's greatest theaters.