After a career breakthrough, a bowler from the Chicago area gets shot during a PBA Tour victory near home.

After a career breakthrough, a bowler from the Chicago area gets shot during a PBA Tour victory near home.

The PBA Tour is stopping in Mount Prospect, and the world’s best bowlers are in the region. To win one for the home crowd, a professional from the area will compete.

The PBA Tour is visiting the Chicago region for the first time since an event in Aurora in 2019. For AJ Johnson, who was born in Oswego, that presented a special chance. He talked to CBS 2 about his recent breakthrough win, bowling near to home, and other topics.

CBS Chicago – The PBA Tour is stopping in Mount Prospect, and the world’s best bowlers are in the region.

To win one for the home crowd, a professional from the area will compete.

The PBA Tour is visiting the Chicago region for the first time since an event in Aurora in 2019. For AJ Johnson, who was born in Oswego, that presented a special chance. He talked to CBS 2 about his recent breakthrough win, bowling near to home, and other topics.

Johnson’s passion for bowling began at an early age for a very apparent reason.

My dad bowled all the time, and I always liked how you could throw something at things to knock them down and hit something, and then it would come right back and you could do it again,” he remarked.

The PBA Illinois Classic in Mount Prospect offers the native of Oswego the opportunity to play near to home against the world’s greatest bowlers.

“I mean, it’s absolutely amazing,” he replied. “Being able to bowl in a professional event close to my hometown is simply so awesome. I suppose it’s quite difficult to bowl in your home state because you want to do exceptionally well for your loved ones and supporters, but also thrive on that.”

As a professional, Johnson has coped with periods of difficulty. His eight years on the PBA Tour were what he referred to as “the grindest of grinds.” This involved bowling up to 40 games in each tournament and going through several qualifying rounds without being awarded a win.

“After a while, it takes a toll on you,” he continued. “It did. It affected me negatively for a long, and there were times in my career when I considered giving up and calling it quits.”

When Johnson eventually made his breakthrough on the PBA Tour in September, it came as a bit of a surprise to him.

“I’ve never been one of those players to say, like, it’s just that sense of relief because I’ve always thought that once you get to that point, there’s more work to be done,” he stated. However, a feeling of relief prevailed. I wasn’t even fully aware that I had acquired it at the time. I asked myself, “Did I just win? “as I turned around and faced my girlfriend. Is it finished? After that, I simply let everything come out of me.”

After his first victory, Johnson made it plain that he is not a complacent person, and it seems to have reignited his passion for the game.

I get to compete for a living and play a sport, which is what I’ve done since I was a child,” he remarked. Being able to travel has been wonderful. Because of bowling, I believe I have traveled to 19 or 20 different countries. Through this sport, I’ve met some extremely wonderful people, including my girlfriend. It’s been so fulfilling, and sometimes I just have to remember that.”

Johnson is still the same young person who throws things at things and, for the most part, knocks them all down.

He attributed his first victory to his practice with sports psychologist Brian Cain. On Saturday night, Johnson will try to capture his second victory.

Johnson is one of the five finalists vying for the PBA Illinois Classic title after advancing through all of the qualifying rounds this week.