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Zach Johnson wins the British Open
Jul. 20, 2015 1:54 pm, Updated: Jul. 20, 2015 7:37 pm
Zach Johnson has won the British Open.
Johnson put on a world-class performance at St. Andrews' Old Course, shooting a 6-under-par 66 to get to 15-under-par, then played a 4-hole playoff in 1-under to defeat Louis Oosthuizen and Marc Leishman.
It is a major-championship bookend of sorts for the 39-year-old Cedar Rapids native. He won the 2007 Masters. So his two majors have been captured on perhaps golf's two most-storied venues, Augusta National and St. Andrews.
'I'm just in awe right now,” Johnson told ESPN shortly after the tourney ended. In the ceremony that followed, he told the crowd 'It was divine. ... I am honored to be your champion.”
Johnson sank a 20-foot par on his final hole of regulation to get to 15-under, then waited for 80 minutes as Leishman and then Oosthuizen joined him.
Johnson defeated Oosthuizen by one shot and Leishman by three in the playoff. Oosthuizen, who won this tourney the last time it was at St. Andrews, missed a 9-foot birdie putt on the final playoff hole to give Johnson the victory.
Johnson sank a birdie putt of about 20 feet on the 18th hole, prompting a fist pump from him and a dance from his caddie, Damon Green. At the time, it left Johnson a shot behind tourney-leader Marc Leishman.
But Leishman bogeyed the 16th hole, then parred the final two holes to tie Johnson.
Jordan Spieth, trying to win his third-consecutive major tournament and have a chance to win golf's Grand Slam next month at the PGA Championship in Wisconsin, birdied the 18th hole to tie for the lead after bogeying No. 17.
Spieth made a putt of over 40 feet for birdie on 16 to briefly tie Johnson and Leishman.
Johnson began the day three shots behind co-leaders Oosthuizen, Jason Day and amateur Paul Dunne. Johnson quickly closed the gap. He birdied three of his first five and seven of his first 11 holes.
Johnson bogeyed Nos. 13 and 17 before sinking the putt on 18 that put him in the position to win as he waited for the other contenders to finish.
Oosthuizen made a 4-foot birdie putt on 18 to join Johnson and Leishman in extra holes.
It is Johnson's 12th PGA Tour victory and marks the ninth year in which he has won at least once.
Zach Johnson reacts after making his birdie putt on the 18th green during Monday's final round of the British Open golf championship on the Old Course in St. Andrews, Scotland. (Russell Cheyne/Reuters)
Zach Johnson of the U.S. reacts after his birdie putt on the second hole during a play-off round at the British Open golf championship on the Old Course in St. Andrews, Scotland, July 20, 2015 REUTERS/Lee Smith
Zach Johnson of the U.S. reacts after winning the British Open golf championship on the Old Course in St. Andrews, Scotland, July 20, 2015 REUTERS/Lee Smith
Zach Johnson of the U.S. hugs his wife Kim Barclay after winning the British Open golf championship on the Old Course in St. Andrews, Scotland, July 20, 2015 REUTERS/Paul Childs
Zach Johnson of the U.S. celebrates as he holds the Claret Jug after winning the British Open golf championship on the Old Course in St. Andrews, Scotland, July 20, 2015. REUTERS/Paul Childs
Zach Johnson of the U.S. celebrates as he kisses the Claret Jug after winning the British Open golf championship on the Old Course in St. Andrews, Scotland, July 20, 2015. REUTERS/Paul Childs TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY
Zach Johnson of the U.S. celebrates as he holds the Claret Jug after winning the British Open golf championship on the Old Course in St. Andrews, Scotland, July 20, 2015. REUTERS/Paul Childs
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