World media's view of Zach Johnson's British Open win

When you win the British Open, the world writes about you. Here is a collection of passages about Zach Johnson's Open Championship win on Monday:

Just before 8 p.m. Monday, Jordan Spieth wove his way through the crowd around the 18th green at the Old Course. The scrum was heavy, and Spieth bumped into a photographer's elbow before skipping around a golf official wearing a suit. Finally, he looked up and smiled.

'Zach!' Spieth called, and a few seconds later he wrapped Zach Johnson in a tight embrace. This was supposed to be Spieth's tournament, Spieth's week, Spieth's year. It was supposed to be Spieth's history. But after a long four rounds over a long five days at the British Open, Johnson's eyes were the ones that were wet with joyful tears, and there was only one thing left for Spieth to do: He gave Johnson a hug and stepped aside. — Sam Borden, New York Times

When he met the press, he was what he always is: Zach Johnson, 'just a guy from Iowa who has been given some talent.'

He was asked what he would have thought 15 years ago if asked about a green jacket and a Claret Jug: 'I would have said, 'Whose am I trying on and whose am I touching?''

Will he be a poster boy for this tournament?

'That's one phrase I've never heard coined with me,' he said. — Bill Dwyre, Los Angeles Times

As Zach Johnson collected the Claret Jug and the second major of his understated career it may have seemed churlish to contemplate what might have been. That sense, though, was unavoidable. ...

A championship that felt like it may never end proceeded into extra time. Johnson will not care a jot about the fairytales he destroyed on the march to victory. — Ewan Murray, The Guardian (UK)

'He finished the first round with a 66 — one shot away from Dustin Johnson, the pacesetter, but still described himself as being 'under the radar.'

Solid but unspectacular rounds of 71 and 70 — the latter after no birdies in his opening 13 holes — left him drifting further into the pack, before the American timed his charge to perfection. 'I guess that radar is going ­bonkers right now,' (Zach) Johnson said. 'I don't mind being in that position. When my game is good, certainly I surface on the radar. I don't know if it's ever really beeping on me.' — Daniel Schofield, The Telegraph (UK)

In a golfing world recently consumed by youngsters, grand slam chances and long bombers, the 39-year-old Iowa bred short-hitting American proved old school ways can still prevail on the Old Course. — Ben Everill, The Age (Australia)

Now he has 12 victories, including two majors, perhaps warranting consideration for the World Golf Hall of Fame.

Whether or not that happens, Johnson has memories of Monday to fall back on. He addressed the spectators who stayed in the grandstand to listen to his victory speech, a cool setting as he looked down the first fairway with all manner of people surrounding the iconic holes that are the beginning and end of the Old Course.

It was a picture worth framing, a scene to never be forgotten. They hailed him at the home of golf, a place where champions are respected and revered, and where he honored them with his own little victory parade along The Links. — Bob Harig, ESPN.com