Johnson credits patience in British Open playoff victory

ST. ANDREWS, Scotland - Zach Johnson etched his name on the claret jug Monday at St. Andrews and hi-fived seemingly half of old town St. Andrews as he won the Open Championship in a playoff over Louis Osthuizen and Marc Leishman.

Johnson now has two major championships and the places he won them are two of the best - Augusta National and St. Andrews.

'The key, certainly for the week was patience and perseverance,” Johnson said. 'And I think in the playoff in particular it was truly about making the best of opportunities, because you know the other guys are not going to let it slide.”

Johnson had to go low just to get to a playoff situation and he did with a 6-under 66.

On a final round when numerous top 20 players filled the leaderboard, Johnson got ahead of the pack.

He began the round at 7-under through twelve holes.

Accurate driving and crisp iron shots continued to give Johnson opportunities to score.

And the other element was a confident attitude as the pressure mounted.

'Once we got going I knew we had a good chance because he doesn't back down,” caddie Damon Green told The Gazette. 'We were talking in the locker room earlier today about winning and I said there are a lot of people that are afraid of winning Zach, and you're not one of them.

'When you get a chance you win, you win.”

The often serious Johnson was unusually animated Monday, running after his iron shots to see their results and being demonstrative with fist pumps on his birdie putts.

The putt on the 72nd hole was amazing just because of what it meant to the tournament. Johnson gave one of his trademark low fist pumps and he was on to the traditional four-hole aggregate playoff.

Johnson displayed humility during his press conference, mentioning more than three players by name who could have been sitting in the winner's chair instead of him.

'I'm just a guy from Iowa that has been blessed with a talent,” Johnson said. 'And this game provides great opportunity.”

Johnson was excited and happy for the moment, that much was clear in his news conference.

'This isn't going to define my career, at least I hope it doesn't. It's not my legacy,” Johnson said. 'Granted, as a professional athlete and as a golfer I'm going to relish this. I'm going to savor this. I'm humbled by this. But my legacy should be my kids, my family, that kind of thing.”

Johnson then got choked up as he talked about his family.

Jordan Spieth and caddie Michael Greller came running out of their car outside the back of the R&A building and got to see Zach win when Louis Oosthuizen missed his birdie putt on the final playoff hole, No. 18.

Spieth had been looking for the third part of the grand slam, but came up just short by one shot.

Johnson was clear in communicating his belief that Spieth is a better person than golfer.

Johnson may claim the same, Claret Jug or not.