Zach Johnson slowed by flu

Updated: October 1, 2013, 3:35 PM ET
By Bob Harig | ESPN.com

DUBLIN, Ohio -- Zach Johnson missed the U.S. team photo for the Presidents Cup on Tuesday and didn't arrive in Ohio until late morning due to the flu, which kept him from traveling on Monday.

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Johnson, who was hoping to chip and putt Tuesday afternoon at Muirfield Village Golf Club, is playing in the Presidents Cup for the third time. He went 3-1 for the U.S. last year at the Ryder Cup.

"It was bad enough that he couldn't fly and even be here," U.S. captain Fred Couples said. "I'm going to say he'll be fine. He's doing OK. He wants to come out and chip and putt, but he'll play tomorrow and he's ready to go."

U.S. assistant captain Davis Love III, who captained the U.S. Ryder Cup team a year ago, took Johnson's place for Tuesday's practice round. If Johnson were too ill to play, he could be replaced with any at-large player up until 6 p.m. Wednesday. After that, a side would face forfeiting its match or, in the case of four-ball (best ball), playing one against two.

The Presidents Cup begins with six four-ball matches Thursday, followed by six alternate shot matches Friday. Both formats are used on Saturday, although there are just five matches in each session. If a player can't play in Sunday's singles, that match is halved.

Bob Harig | email

Golf Writer, ESPN.com
  • Senior golf writer for ESPN.com
  • Covered golf for more than 20 years
  • Earned Evans Scholarship to attend Indiana University

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