Caitlin Clark tees it up with fellow Iowa native Zach Johnson at John Deere Classic pro-am

Iowa Hawkeyes women’s basketball star Caitlin Clark teed it up with two-time major champion and fellow Iowa native Zach Johnson during Wednesday’s John Deere Classic Pro-Am at TPC Deere Run.

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“It’s just unique and special. I haven’t had many opportunities to play a different sport, and at a PGA Tour event,” Clark said, via ESPN. “I’m a big fan of golf. I love to play and be around it. Every Sunday I usually have the TV on and I’m watching.

“Obviously, a big fan of Zach. We worked on my chipping a bit, leaning more on my front foot.”

Clark, just a few months removed from leading Iowa to its first NCAA women’s basketball championship game, a 102-85 defeat to LSU, teed off at 8:08 a.m. local time, splitting the fairway on her first tee shot. Fans flocked to see Clark in action with TPC Deere Run about 70 miles from Iowa’s campus, lining up along the fairways to ask for autographs from the three-point specialist.

Caitlin Clark has up-and-down day in John Deere Classic Pro-Am

Although she didn’t record an exact score, Clark acknowledged she slowed up on the back nine after a strong start to her day.

“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, ‘Don’t waste time, just go up there and hit it.’ It think it’s the same with basketball. You have to settle into the game a little bit.

“I think Zach would say the mental side of basketball or golf is way more important that the physical skill. I’m only 21, so being able to learn that has been hard, but it really is true. You have one bad thing, you have to recover. Whether it’s a turnover or a missed putt.”

Clark averaged 27.8 points per game this past season on her way to winning the Honda Cup as the top collegiate women’s athlete. Johnson recalled the buzz around Augusta National Golf Club ahead of the 2023 Masters Tournament as Clark led the Hawkeyes into the NCAA women’s basketball championship game.

“The buzz around Augusta National that afternoon was the [women’s championship game] coming up that afternoon,” Johnson said. “I think that speaks volumes of where the sport is going. What happened this year in the NCAA women’s tournament, to me as an Iowan, but also a fan of sports, was just spectacular.

“I’m a fan of the state and those that excel at a high level. This young lady is transcendent given her talent, but I can’t speak highly enough about how she handles herself.”