I presume that some of you who follow these scribblings know that yours truly has had a lifetime love affair with golf.

Even though I'm not playing these days, which I regret, I still try to keep involved with the game. And, of course, I have been able to admire the career of Zach Johnson and the way things have developed for this gentleman who is now a major player on the PGA Tour.

Zach stands at eight Tour victories after his win at Colonial and his ranking is now among the top 20 in the world. It's a testament to his drive and competitiveness, in my view, even more than his wondrous skills.

Zach Johnson has now shown the world that a Cedar Rapidian can become one of the world's highest-ranked players. How did this happen?

In covering games that Zach played at Regis when it was a high school, and going on to his days at Drake, it was obvious he had the skills to make the Nationwide Tour. But, I imagine that many people who followed Zach at that time figured he would be no more than a one or two-time winner on the PGA Tour.

Some were willing to say his win in the Masters was a stroke of luck or a fluke, but Zach has proved them all wrong. He's now at the peak of his game.

He is looking beyond Tour wins toward leaving a greater legacy for his time on the big stage. Meaning more majors, more Ryder Cups, more high world rankings and a platform in which to display his family values.

He won't do any of this because of his ego, of which there is little, but to make a statement to help people and especially those in Cedar Rapids.

And this summer, we will welcome Zach back to Elmcrest Country Club for his charity appearance that is now just one of the many doors that Zach has opened to serve mankind through the game of golf.

NOTE: A tip of the fedora to the Iowa golf team on making the NCAA tournament again. With the way Mark Hankins is developing the program, Iowa golf will be a consistent challenger for the NCAA championships.