Jordan Spieth to defend Australian Open title in November

“I’ve certainly closed plenty of tournaments out, and this just wasn’t one of those”, the reigning Masters and U.S. Open champion said.

Reflecting on his second major triumph, Johnson was choking back tears in an emotional on-camera interview immediately after his round.

Spieth, 21, finished just one shot adrift of Zach Johnson, who lifted the Claret Jug after a three-man play-off with 2010 victor Louis Oosthuizen and Australian Marc Leishman on Monday.

Zach Johnson kisses the Claret Jug at St Andrews, yesterday. “It was the hardest rain and the hardest wind at the same time of the day”.

Thanks to Scotland’s unpredictable weather, the final round at the old course at St. Andrews was played on Monday.

But worse followed as he took four putts from the front of the green to get down.

He did climb back though, with a birdie at the 10th and then five solid pars before his wonder putt at the 16th seemed to light the touchpaper for something special. It kept him out of the playoff.

He bagged his share of birdies and was well in the hunt until a double bogey at the par three eighth looked to have punctured his hopes. But with the most significant shot of the tournament, Johnson holed a 30-foot birdie putt on No. 18 for a 6-under 66 and was the first to post at 15-under 273.

Johnson, who won the U.S. Masters in 2007, was one under par for the extra holes. All three made bogey on 17, again, no surprise, and after Johnson missed his birdie putt on 18, Oosthuizen had an opportunity to tie him and send the playoff to sudden death.

“I’m humbled right now because of what’s in my lap and the names that are etched on this piece of metal”, he added.

The eyewear allied with his equally permanent cap had some believing Johnson was trying to mask his emotions, but he said: “I’ve got a bald spot for a start”.

Padraig Harrington also saw his title challenge slip away, despite birdies on the first two holes, and ended with a 75. And he felt the same about Spieth.

“You’d have to pay me a million dollars a day to wear those things”, ESPN’s Paul Azinger said. Truthfully, he could be hitting here. I thank my friends.

They came by the thousands on a wet and chilly day, lured by cheap tickets and the chance to see history.

The 39-year-old Johnson now has two majors among his 12 PGA Tour victories, an astounding record and an example that a good wedge game and putter can still go a long way in this era of the long ball.

‘In fairness to Jordan Spieth, and we all know how big a player and ambassador he is for the game, he sought him out.

Phil Mickelson, the 2013 champion, said earlier in the week that a little luck is necessary to win the Open, moreso than the other majors and it’s true. It was one that someone else won.

Spieth will take that attitude to Whistling Straits, the third straight links-style course among the year’s majors. I appreciate them and I appreciate that we play a great sport, a fun sport, one that provides a lot of drama, and there’s an entertainment value there.

No sense thinking too much about what might have happened.