Had he won the Open to go with the Masters and the US Open he would have moved above Rory McIlroy as world No 1. American Zach Johnson has now joined that elite group. Later, he came out and watched Johnson win a playoff, then gave him a congratulatory hug.
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But Spieth fell agonisingly short of joining them in that four hole shoot-out after a fearless fightback from a four-putt double bogey on the eighth hole ultimately saw him finish just one shot shy of Johnson’s 15-under par scoreline.
Johnson and Oosthuizen both birdied the first as Leishman three-putted from long range and Johnson edged ahead with another birdie on the second. Dreams have been realised and goals accomplished.
“But I’m grateful, I’m humbled, I’m thankful, I’m honored”.
Spieth started the fireworks early on the front nine with three birdies in his first six holes.
“I made a lot of the right decisions down the stretch and certainly closed plenty of tournaments out, and this just wasn’t one of those. The rest is history”.
All of which shortchanges the victor, of course – and Johnson, the 39-year-old, straight-hitting Iowan, victor of the 2007 Masters, deserved better – but that’s life in the Year of Jordan. His superb wedge play and putting were key to his victory. It’s not like I really lost it on the last hole, and 17 was brutally challenging. Only one of those names would end up making a run to the playoff round and it was the least likeliest of the group.
Then came Chambers Bay, where – somehow – he was tied with Branden Grace, Dustin Johnson and Spieth with 18 holes remaining.
Five years after winning the Open at St Andrews, Louis Oosthuizen suffered major play-off heartbreak for the second time in his career.
“I try to take it seriously but it’s just a game”.
“When you look up from the ball and you’re getting pelted in the face it’s a hard shot, and I just tried to sling one in there and I left it 40 yards from the pin on the green there”.
The 22-year-old began the day as joint leader on 12 under, after a brilliant 66 in the third round, seeking to become the first amateur since Bobby Jones in 1930 to win the Open.
The only previous need for that scenario was in 1988 at Royal Lytham & St. Annes Golf Club, when Seve Ballesteros of Spain claimed the Claret Jug.
“It’s hard to digest it all at the moment”, said the visibly shell-shocked 34-year-old Queenslander, who broke his major drought by winning the green jacket in 2013, after coming home in 40.
The way the weather-delayed Open ended on Sunday, expect just about anything. He shot 76 in the final round and finished three shots behind Lee Trevino.
Lieshman would in particular rue his luck by allowing the Claret Jug slip from his grip in regular play after he bogeyed the 16th from four feet.
The Open is likely to be held at St Andrews again for the 150th edition of golf’s oldest major in 2021.
OPEN champion Zach Johnson paid tribute to Jordan Spieth for being one of the first people to congratulate him after dashing his hopes of a legendary Grand Slam. He rolled in a 50-foot birdie putt for a share of the lead with two holes to play.
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Nerves understandable from the 22-year-old and none of this will make him feel any better.
