Zach Johnson takes British Open title in playoff

Spieth lost his chance on the greens at the Old Course at St. Andrews.

Leishman was at 9-under 207 overall, just one shot off the top spot as he headed to the clubhouse, having finished his round before 36-hole leader Dustin Johnson even teed off.

Three holes and three birdies later, the 21-year-old led the British Open and his quest to become the first man in history to win all four major championships in a season had a fresh pulse of energy.

Johnson, who won the U.S. Masters in 2007, was 1-under par for the extra holes. No one has ever swept the three American majors in the same year.

When it was over, Jordan Spieth stood off the 18th green and applauded the fans who had spent much of their day applauding him.

“Up and down for a playoff”, was the last thing Spieth said to caddie Michael Greller from about 90 yards away. Spieth bogeyed the 17th and needed a birdie at the last to extend his Open, but pitched into the Valley of Sin and could only make par.

At least he was in elite company.

Another amateur is surging into contention at the British Open. Spieth is one shot off the lead heading into the final round. I’ve said it a thousand times. “It won’t hurt too bad. I felt great. I’m just in awe right now”. I texted her between the finish in play and the play-off, but apart from that just trying to make birdies and see how we ended up. And this just wasn’t one of those. “It’s hard to do that every single time”.

Former Open champion Louis Oosthuizen suffered a second major play-off defeat at St Andrews. He was in tears by the end of his interview, saying: “Gosh, I’m a mess”. But I’m grateful and humbled.

“It takes me back to when I turned professional”, he said. He staked his claim to the claret jug with a charging 30-footer for birdie at the last for a final-round 66 more than an hour before the trailing game completed their round.

Johnson and Leishman both shot 6-under 66s.

Dunne, who shared the lead with Oosthuizen and Day at the beginning of the round, made a disappointing start with bogeys at the first two holes.

Australia’s Marc Leishman was also 15 under with two holes to play. He was faced with a daunting birdie putt – a 1-in-100 chance, really. But when Johnson finally took off his mittens the size of oven mitts, he also showed his putting prowess, sinking a 30-footer for birdie on the 72nd hole to reach the playoff. Johnson birdied the first and second holes of the four-hole playoff, then hung on for the victory.

After a birdie at the opening hole, Johnson sprayed a shot into the gorse at No. 2, had to take a penalty, and settled for a bogey.

Zach Johnson won the British Open at St. Andrews on Monday.

“Granted, as a professional athlete and as a golfer I’m going to relish this, I’m going to savour this”.

Mickelson was six under for the day and just two off the lead at 10 under overall when he hooked his drive on the 17th out of bounds and into the Old Course Hotel.

It was signature Zach, workmanlike and wildly understated.