Jim Furyk’s success at the Presidents Cup has once again put Zach Johnson under the scanner. Team USA’s Rome trip was marked by controversies even before they boarded the flight. A former Ryder Cupper hinted at multiple things that Johnson did wrong. And, it’s not limited to the infamous call with Keegan Bradley.

Rather, he pointed out that Johnson calling his wife ‘Captainess’ was wrong. ZJ and Kim Barclay got married in 2003, and have three children. While his wife’s support was crucial for Johnson, she was not part of the squad.

The former Ryder Cupper explained in an anonymous Golf Digest article, “I hadn’t heard that term (Captainess) since Corey Pavin was captain in 2010, and his captaincy was chaos. Your wife is incredibly important; you never want to minimize her support. But she isn’t on the team.”

Lisa, Corey Pavin’s wife, was directly involved in the 2010 Ryder Cup. She designed the rain suits for the entire team. Cavin was also involved in planning the diet chart and decorating the USA locker room in the Celtic Manor Resort. She was also on the cover of the Avid Golfer magazine wrapped in Red, White, and Blue. 

The leading lady of the USA squad drew eyeballs even before the Ryder Cup started. The trouble began when some players complained the rain suits were not doing the job it was designed to do: keep the rain from soaking in. Reportedly, some players ditched them in favor of new ones from a local pro shop. 

“A couple guys liked them and didn’t want any other stuff, and other guys were not satisfied with the way they performed, so we switched them out,” Captain Pavin explained later. Nevertheless, the fact that the USA lost by a mere one point didn’t sit well with the fans. Many blamed the rain suits and subsequent drama around it for breaking the team’s focus.

The former Ryder Cupper believed Zach Johnson should’ve taken note of that. Probably, because he was part of the USA squad. Moreover, he also noted how Johnson could’ve handled the Keegan Bradley call better. 

What Zach Johnson shouldn’t have done

The call with Keegan Bradley was the highlight of Full Swing Season 2. Zach Johnson was relieved to have done the tough task. His decision to snub an in-form Bradley over Justin Thomas and Rickie Fowler caught many by surprise. Not to mention, it kickstarted the ‘Country Club’ narrative. While Johnson did say he never envied this part of the job, he gave off a smile of relief after the call, which the PGA Tour pro found somewhat disturbing.

Maybe it wasn’t Johnson’s intention to play it down, but it gave off the wrong message. The veteran golfer opined, “To be happy that it’s over with? Sure, you can be relieved, but don’t be smiling.” Interestingly, that’s one key reason why fans were enraged at Johnson after the Full Swing season 2 was released. Many pointed out that the former major winner was not sympathetic to Bradley’s pain. 

And, after Keegan Bradley secured the final point to seal the 2024 Presidents Cup victory, Zach Johnson was once again raked over the coals. The former Ryder Cupper’s comments highlight how Johnson might have avoided all the negative comments from fans. The 48-year-old, however, got a chance to make amends when he called Bradley this year to deliver the good news. He is going to lead the USA at Bethpage Black.