Silves, Illinois — After leading the Iowa Hockey League to its first ever NCAA Women’s Basketball Tournament game, being the National Consensus Player of the Year and winning the Honda Trophy as the top collegiate women’s athlete, Caitlin Clark has added another honor to her list of accomplishments for 2023. She’s She played golf alongside U.S. Ryder Cup captain Zack Johnson, a native of Iowa, on Wednesday.
An avid golf fan who has played since childhood, Clark competed in the John Deere Classic Pro-Am at TPC Deere Run.
“It’s just unique and special; I haven’t had as many opportunities to play a different sport, and be on a PGA Tour,” Clark said. “I am a big fan of golf. I love playing and being around it. Every Sunday I usually watch TV.
“Obviously, a big fan of Zach. We worked on chopping me up a little bit, leaning more on my front foot.”
Clark dropped back at 8:08 a.m. local time, splitting the fairway on her opening drive. It attracted a large crowd. The course is located in the greater Quad Cities area, only about 70 miles from where Clark is known for his 3-pointer and pass identification at Carver-Hawkeye Arena in Iowa City, Iowa.
Many spectators wearing No. 22 jerseys lined the fairways, asking for autographs from Clark, who was kept busy signing across 18 holes. Johnson smiled when asked about the last time he might have been Ewan’s second most famous on a golf course.
“Well, Conor McCaffrey was running with us today as well, so I’ll probably be third or fourth on the list,” Johnson said, referring to a friend of Clark’s, who played with his father Fran McCaffrey on the Iowa men’s basketball team. “That’s cool, man. I wouldn’t have it any other way.”
Connor, Clark’s parents and younger brother, and Iowa State women’s assistant coach Jan Jensen followed Clark’s eighteen-hole lead. Her former club basketball coach, Dixon Jensen, had a crush on her. Clark and her group of amateurs were paired with the professional Ludwig Aberg for the first nine holes and then with Johnson for the back nine.
Johnson is a 12-time winner on the PGA Tour, including two major championships, and six appearances as a Ryder Cup player. Born in Iowa City, Johnson grew up in Cedar Rapids and played collegiately at Drake in Des Moines, where Clark is from.
Clark said she is looking forward to watching the Ryder Cup, which will be held from September 29 to October. 1 in Italy. Iowa State, which finished 31-7 last season and upset the previously undefeated South Carolina Gamecocks in the semifinals before losing to the LSU Tigers in the final, will play Italy in a conference playoff in August.
“If the coach [Lisa] Bluder wants to let me skip the first month of school and stay in Italy [for the Ryder Cup]”I’ll be absolutely fine,” said Clark, smiling, “but I doubt it will.”
Clarke started her Wednesday run strong in the front nine, but admitted to running out of gas in the back nine, as the temperature peaked at 90 degrees. Since he’s a pro and amateur picks up a few holes, Clark didn’t have an accurate score. Suffice it to say, though, I’ve hit a lot of fairways and put a birdie a few times, just missing. Golf is just a fun sport for her, but she can keep it.
“I had a solo par to start the day, which was nice,” Clark said. “I wasn’t too nervous on the first tee. It was kind of like, ‘Don’t waste time, just get up there and hit it. ‘” “I think it’s the same with basketball. You have to settle a little bit into the game.
“I think Zach would say the mental side of basketball or golf is more important than physical skill. I’m only 21, so being able to learn that was hard, but it’s really true. You have one bad thing, you have to recover. Whether That was a spin or a missed hit.”
Last season, Clark averaged 27.8 points (second in Division I) and 8.6 assists, leading the nation. She will be a senior this fall, but due to a COVID-19 waiver, she can play two more years of college. Clarke, who could be one of the best draft picks in the WNBA, has stated that she does not expect to make her decision as a fifth year in college until after the season is over.
At the Masters in April, Johnson said, he spoke to WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert, who said she hoped Clark would turn pro in 2024. Johnson joked that he was actually trying to get Clark three more years of eligibility at Iowa. He also said that on April 2, the Sunday before the Drive, Chip and Putt contest at Augusta National, there was a lot of chatter about the Iowa-LSU game.
The commotion around Augusta National that afternoon was… [women’s championship game] “That afternoon,” Johnson said, “I think that says a lot about the direction the sport is heading in. What happened this year at the NCAA Women’s Championship, for me as an Iowan, but also a sports fan, was amazing.
“I’m a fan of the country and those who overachieve. This young woman is superior considering her talent, but I can’t speak highly enough of how she handles herself.”