Johnson captured his second major – this one at the home of golf – winning the British Open in a playoff over Louis Oosthuizen and Marc Leishman that capped off five wild days at St. Andrews and a suspense-filled final round. And a win in the oldest championship in golf would set up a monumental task for Spieth in next month’s PGA Championship, where he’d try and become the only player to win the modern day Grand Slam.
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That was the Australian’s first bogey since the 17th hole of the second round – he carded a flawless 64 on Sunday – and left him alongside Johnson on 15 under, with Spieth, Day and Oosthuizen all just one behind.
American Zach Johnson has added a second major title to his career, winning the British Open Monday in a dramatic four-hole playoff.
He had a chance from 20-feet to seal the win but missed before Oosthuizen, the 2010 champion at St Andrews, lipped out a 10-foot effort to extend the playoff.
Johnson negotiated the four-hole playoff at the Old Course over holes one, two, 17 and 18 in one under to beat Oosthuizen by a stroke and Leishman by three. He reached the green with his third shot and faced a seven-foot putt for par, which he missed.
Inexplicably, Spieth yanked his drive to the wide-open, most-photographed fairway in golf, sending it way left, leaving him an approach shot from a distance that didn’t suit him. He recovered those two shots at the next two holes and then, late in the day he birdied the 16th with the sort of magical wielding of the putter that suggested destiny might still be on his side.
‘When you’re playing sport at a high level, to get the respect of your peers is a huge thing.
The 21-year-old American, who was seeking to become the first man to land the year’s first three majors since compatriot Ben Hogan in 1953, moved into a share of the lead with a wondrous birdie putt on the 16th. I say that and I love that tournament and I still like St Andrews.
“I’m just a little frustrated”.
Observers to his performance yesterday noted that his trademark strut had returned and that Harrington’s performance had echoes of his three previous major wins, something not seen for some time. After hitting the green only to watch it roll back off, Spieth attempted a long birdie chip that came close but wasn’t meant to be. It was the hardest hole on the PGA Tour this season.
Johnson matched Oosthuizen’s birdie on the first hole and pulled ahead with another birdie on No. 2.
“I don’t normally ever display frustration”, said Spieth, who has shot par or better in 10 of his 11 rounds this year in majors. I just made a mental mistake on number eight and it seemed to have cost me as well as on 18, just not giving myself a chance. “He’s a phenomenal talent, and I’m telling you right now, he’s a better person than he is a golfer”.
“I can’t describe the magnitude as to what he was going through because I’ve never been in that position”, Johnson said at the winner’s press conference.
Of Johnson, Spieth wrote, “Very proud of a role model and friend of mine”.
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“I believe I’ll have plenty of opportunities like I did today”.
