Johnson wins British Open in 4-hole playoff

ST ANDREWS, Scotland American Zach Johnson claimed the second major triumph of his career after winning a four-hole playoff at the end of a captivating, cliffhanger of a final round in the British Open on Monday.

His brand of pinpoint accuracy off the tee, onto greens and into the hole was enough to gain victory in the white heat of one of the most pulsating days of major championship golf seen in a long while and Johnson said he was humbled and honoured to have won it.

A bogey on 17 followed for Johnson, but Oosthuizen – who began the day as one of three joint-leaders – and Leishman also made five, and the South African missed a 10-footer on the 18th that would have extended the contest still further.

2007 Masters Johnson victor finished a shot ahead of Oosthuizen and three in front of Leishman over the course of the four extra holes played to determine the victor.

Unfortunately the Queenslander was reduced to tears after the 25-foot putt fell a foot short, while his partner Jordan Spieth (-14) missed a similar length putt to qualify for the playoff.

Spieth, 21, is bidding to become the first player since compatriot Ben Hogan in 1953 to land the opening three majors of the year.

Spieth’s chances were effectively wrecked when he took four putts from 100 feet to double-bogey the eighth and he eventually had to settle for a share of fourth place with Australian Jason Day (70).

When asked what kind of pressure he might feel should he stand on the precipice of an historic hat-trick, Spieth’s answer said everything about his current state of mind.

“I’ll be disappointed the way I played the last five holes for sure”, Scott said.

Phil Mickelson was moving up the leaderboard Monday with a string of birdies that got him to 10-under, just 2 shots off the lead.

Johnson, with the honors on the course’s toughest hole, hits his tee shot over the hotel and into the center of the Road Hole fairway. He is now eight shots back.

Leishman, who had also covered the front nine in 31 and birdied the 10th and 12th, briefly held a two-shot lead when Johnson bogeyed the 17th, his right foot slipping on his second shot as a rain shower passed through.

“To don my name on that trophy is humbling and surreal”, said Johnson, whose superb wedge-play and putting were key to his win.

Johnson, Oosthuizen and Leishman all finished with totals of 15-under 273 after Johnson and Leishman had 66s and Oosthuizen a 69.

Spieth made par to stay with the leading pack while Johnson went long from a bunker and couldn’t accept the regulation birdie on offer.

” I can’t describe the magnitude as to what he (Spieth) was going through because I’ve never been in that position certainly”, added Johnson, who moves from 25th to 12th in the world rankings”. It’s not like I really lost it on the last hole, and 17 was brutally challenging.

His favorite golf course is Muirfield Village in Ohio, and cites the Ryder Cup and the Masters as his favorite tournaments. “I feel like I’m a better player now than I was then”.

“Yeah, mate, I’m happy”, he said. He blew kisses after his final putt gave him a 1-over 289 for the week.