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An
Interview with Re/Max World Long Drive Champion, Viktor Johansson Recently, the
new ReMax World Long Drive Champion Viktor Johansson, a 23 year
old college student from Stockholm, Sweden, sat down with Harrison
Sports’ Long Drive Team Director, Steve Zunich. Viktor is a
6’ 7", 285 pound "giant" who played on the East
Carolina University golf team and was a Swedish National Junior
Player.
VJ: About a year and a half. This was my second appearance in the finals. SZ: What happened last year? VJ: I made it to Mesquite, the final 64. But I wasn’t prepared. I did not have a pre shot routine. I had no strategy. I didn’t worry about getting my first or second shot (out of six chances per round) into the grid. I just swung as hard as I could and I was out in the first round. SZ: What about this year? What was different? VJ: After the finals last winter, I went to work with a coach and developed a strategy to place the first shot or two in the grid and then to go for it. It allowed me to relax and be more confident. I also learned that I was going way past most of my competition with my "easy" swing, so I swing with much more control now. SZ: You won your qualifying events by some considerable distances. When we heard about your earlier victories, we thought you were going to have a great chance to win this year. Turns out we were right. VJ: Yeah, in Fayetteville, NC I beat a fairly prominent Long Driver by about forty yards and in Sweden I qualified for Mesquite by going sixty yards past the guy in second place. SZ: That’s amazing. In Mesquite, you hit your second shot in an early round 414 yards, which I think was the longest at this year’s competition. It looked like the ball went about ten feet off the ground. Tell me about that shot. VJ: That was funny. My first shot in that round missed the grid so I was still taking my easy swing, just trying to get it in play. Actually, I kind of "topped" it and I was surprised that it kept going and going. Of course I didn’t have to hit another one. SZ: The crowd went nuts after that hit. VJ: Yeah, that was fun. SZ: Right after you qualified for the Final 8, you told me that you were turning professional and you asked me about a contract with Harrison, which you signed. Did you consider signing with another shaft company? VJ: Not at all. I did not want to change shafts right before the finals. Of course I have tried all of the other shafts in Long Drive. Nothing compares to Harrison. I broke many of the other top shafts and the ones I did not break didn’t fly as straight or as long. The only thing that matters to me is winning and I feel that the Harrison shaft gives me the best opportunity to win. If I don’t win, no one is going to care about me at all. SZ: What are your plans for the near future? VJ: After graduation, I plan to do full time exhibitions and, of course, I will continue to compete in Long Drive events. I am having a great time and it seems like a fun way to make a living. SZ: What would you like people to know about you that you don’t think they would suspect? VJ: I am a scratch golfer and I am graduating Magna Cum Laude. SZ: Congratulations again and good luck next year. If you think you are the next Long Drive Champion (or if you think you know him), contact Steve Zunich at extension #122 to learn about becoming a Harrison Long Drive Team member. |
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