The birthplace of golf offered up more than anyone could have dreamed Sunday.
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Spieth fixed the putting problem that caused left misses during a frustrating two-day third round. Wood won the first two in 1941 and never got a chance at the British due to World War II.
Johnson rolled in a 30-foot birdie putt at the 72nd hole for a 6-under 66 that put him at 15-under through regulation.
Now the slightly-built Dunne has the chance of pulling off one of the most extraordinary wins of all time.
No amateur has led the Open after three rounds since America’s Bobby Jones in 1927 – he is also the last amateur to win the title, a victory that came three years later. It’s just lucky that it happens to be in the biggest event in the world.
Dunne is planning to turn pro later this year. “I’m aggressive when I can be and not when I can’t”, he said. Spieth is one shot off the lead. Hopefully I play great again and post a good number. I didn’t play as well there. He is alone in third place on 8-under 136, two strokes off Johnson’s lead. I want to win.
However his capacity to get the job done on the final day of a Grand Slam has been called into question.
It forced the first Monday finish in the British Open in 27 years.
American Zach Johnson won in a play-off with Louis Oosthuizen and Marc Leishman after the trio finished 15 under.
Just don’t see that view as a sign of weakness from Day. He shot a 67 and tied for 12th.
Jordan Niebrugge had an outside shot at the silver claret jug. By the end of the season Spieth is likely to be pulling in $5 million to $10 million in annual endorsements, said Matt Delzell, managing director of The Marketing Arm, who negotiates such endorsement deals. “But the last three days I got off to a steady start and settled into the round and today I had a couple shots I hadn’t seen in any practice or any range sessions I’ve had”.
Spieth said: “I don’t know how many guys have done three majors in a year”.
Johnson went out in 31 and birdied the last from 22 feet.
Rarely has the Old Course been as easy as it was Sunday.
“Everyone knows it”, Day said.
He led the 2013 Masters on the 16th hole in the final round and finished third.
The lead, co-held after 54 holes by Oosthuizen, Jason Day and amateur Paul Dunne, who blew to a 78 Monday, was batted around like a piñata.
Spieth, the youngest professional in the field, seemed calm despite the historic moment in front of him.
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The Baltimore-based sports apparel and footwear company sent a team to the British Open to support and promote Jordan Spieth, the 21-year-old it signed to a 10-year-contract in January after originally securing the Texan in 2013. Even during the long delay on Saturday, he said he hasn’t thought much about the slam. “I’ll embrace the opportunity that presents itself”.
