Zach Johnson Wins The Open on Epic Final Day

Sorts Writer, Derek Clements reports from St Andrews

NOT many people would have picked Zach Johnson as a potential champion before the final round of the 144th Open at St Andrews, but he shot a 66 and then came through a four-hole playoff to lift the Claret Jug.

On a day of high drama, it was the 39-year-old American who held his nerve, beating Louis Oosthuizen and Marc Leishman to add The Open to his victory at The Masters in 2007.

Jordan Spieth, bidding to win a third successive major, finished one shot behind, so there will be no Spieth Slam - not this year at any rate.

Zach Johnson

Before 54-hole leaders Oosthuizen and Paul Dunne had even teed off they and Jason Day had been joined on 12 under par by Padraig Harrington, who birdied the first and second, and Spieth, who birdied the first.

Oosthuizen responded with a birdie of his own at the first to lead on his own at 13 under. Dunne made the worst possible start. After a nervy tee shot, he hit a dreadful approach to the opening hole and dropped his first shot of the day. It took him back to 11 under, where he found himself tied with English amateur Ashley Chesters, with Jordan Niebrugge, the American amateur, one shot behind.

And it quickly went from bad to worse. His drive at the second was so far right that he had to hit a provisional. That went even further right, so the 22-year-old was forced to reload again. Fortunately, his first drive was located on the adjoining New Course and was not deemed to be out of bounds. But he dropped another shot.  Thankfully, he was able to settle his nerves with a birdie at the third.

The weather was pretty miserable. The golf was anything but, with approach shots peppering flags and putts being holed all over the course. Anthony Wall, of England, who has only ever won once on the European Tour, joined the group on 12 under when he nearly holed his tee shot at the par-three 11th. Marc Leishman birdied the third and fourth and he, too, was 12 under, along with Adam Scott, thanks to three birdies in the first six holes.

Oosthuizen was soon joined on 13 under by Leishman, Scott, Zach Johnson and Harrington. It was breathless tuff, and it was anybody's championship. Johnson reached the turn in 31 with yet another birdie at the ninth, good enough to move him one in front at 14 under. And minutes later he was joined by Scott, who also went out in 31.

Day and Spieth birdied the fifth and were now 13 under, while Niebrugge was now in pole position for the Silver Medal when his latest birdie took him 12 under. It wasn't all fun and games, however, with Harrington losing his ball at the sixth and stumbling to a double-bogey.

Sergio Garcia has enjoyed his fair share of heartache at The Open, but hopes springs eternal for the Spaniard. He birdied four of his first seven holes and he was also 13 under par.

Are you keeping up with all of this? Zach Johnson certainly was. He drove the par-four 10th and two-putted. The American could not believe his luck - six birdies in 10 holes, 15 under par and back in the lead.

And there was good news for Dunne, who got back to level par for his round with a birdie at the fifth. What a day this was turning out to be.

Much had been made of Spieth's attempt to win his third successive major and he kept it going with another birdie at the sixth, and was followed in by Day, his playing partner.

Johnson led at 15 under, with Day, Spieth, Oosthuizen and Scott one adrift. And then Scott emulated Johnson with a birdie at the 10th. But Johnson was unstoppable and birdied the 12th - were we looking at the champion-elect? Or would somebody emerge from the ever-growing chasing pack?

Chesters was the first of the leading amateurs to finish. His 69 saw him home in 279, nine under.

Johnson made his first mistake of the day at the 13th when his approach with a three wood finished in a deep greenside bunker and dropped his first shot of the day. Spieth's challenge was derailed when he four-putted the par-three eighth, but the 21-year-old bounced straight back with successive birdies to get him back to 14 under. This was not a day for the faint-hearted.

Leishman birdied the ninth to reach the turn in 31 and move to 14 under, where he was immediately joined by Garcia. The Australian drove the 10th, two-putted. 15 under.

Danny Willett had been largely forgotten, especially after playing the front nine in 37, but he birdied the 11th, 12th, 13th and 14th to get to 12 under and still in with a chance. Speaking of which, Oosthuizen hit a dreadful tee shot at the ninth but drained a huge putt for yet another birdie. 14 under. Willett would drop a shot at the 17th and finish 11 under.

With everybody now on the back nine, Johnson, Scott and Leishman were tied for the lead at 15 under, Spieth, Day and Oosthuizen one behind, and Garcia alone on 13 under. Surely the winner would come from this magnificent seven. Would this famous old championship be decided by a moment of brilliance or by somebody making a mistake? Leishman produced a glorious approach at the 12th, holed the putt and led at 16 under.

With the rain pouring down, there wasn't a lot of fun to be had for the spectators, but the players, in the main, were having a ball.

The 14th, 15th, 16th and 17th holes were playing the most difficult on the golf course - if any of the leaders could manage four pars it would probably be enough. Scott dropped shots at the 14th and 15th - he missed a putt of no more than 12 inches at the 15th as he dropped back to 13 under. He had another bogey at the 17th and completed his misery by driving out of bounds on the 18th. It seems he is destined never to win The Open. And Johnson suffered a huge blow at the 17th when his feet slipped and he duffed his second to the Road Hole. It cost him a bogey. 14 under.

While all this was going on, Niebrugge birdied the 14th and was 13 under and the leading amateur. Oosthuizen closed the gap on Leishman to one after a superb approach to the 12th.

Johnson holed a superb putt on the final green for a birdie and a splendid round of 66. He set the clubhouse target at 15 under par and had to wait to find out if it was good enough. Leishman gave him hope when he dropped his first shot of the day at the 16th to fall back to 15 under, with the Road Hole still to come. The Australian put his second just short of the green and two-putted for par. Seconds later, Spieth holed an outrageous putt on the 16th green to take a share of the lead. He couldn't could he?

Garcia was cheered all the way up the final hole but the Spaniard came up short once more while Niebrugge, with whom he played, finished 11 under and won the Silver Medal. Dunne finished with a 78 and was clearly disappointed, but he really should remember the positives, and there were many.

Leishman was unable to birdie the 18th. He and Johnson were tied, but Spieth, Day and Oosthuizen still had a part to play. The 17th hole cost Spieth a bogey, but Day parred it. Both men had to birdie the 18th to join Johnson and Leishman. Neither could manage it. And so to Oosthuizen. He, too, required a birdie to join the playoff. And he managed it.

So, for the last time, Ivor Robson, the starter at The Open for more than 40 years, would call them off the first tee as Oosthuizen, Leishman and Johnson set off to play the first, second, 17th and 18th holes.

The Playoff 

1st:

Oousthuizen and Leishman hit irons from the tee, while Johnson hits a utility club. Leishman's ball finishes in a badly-repaired divot. Oosthuizen finishes 15 feet away in two. Leishman is unable to get any spin on the ball and rolls 30 feet beyond the pin. Johnson finishes 10 feet from the pin. Oosthuizen rolls in his putt for a birdie, and Johnson follows him in, Leishman takes three putts

Johnson: -1
Leishman: +1
Oosthuizen: -1

2nd:

All three players hit driver and find the fairway. Johnson and Oosthuizen both strike their approach shots to 20-25 feet, while Leishman is 40 feet away and takes two putts for a par. Oosthuizen also pars the hole, while Johnson records another birdie.

Johnson: -2
Leishman: +1
Oosthuizen: -1

17th:

Three superb drives at the most difficult hole on the course. A par for Johnson might well secure the Claret Jug for the American. Leishman's second shot comes up just short of the green, while Johnson leaves himself with a horrible pitch if he is to save par. Oosthuizen also comes up short. Johnson pitches the ball over the green in three. Leishman comes up eight feet short with his third, and takes two more. Oosthuizen finishes four feet short and misses the next. Johnson pitches to three feet and holes for a bogey

Johnson: -1
Leishman: +2
Oosthuizen: level

18th:

All three hit the widest fairway in championship golf. Johnson hits his second shot first, finishing 15 feet away, while Leishman's pitch spins off the green. Oosthuizen pitches six feet beyond the hole.Leishman two-putts.Johnson has a birdie putt to be sure of victory, but he misses. Oosthuizen must hole to extend the playoff. He misses

Johnson: -1
Leishman: +2
Oosthuizen: level

One can only wonder what Rory McIlroy, at home recovering from an ankle injury, must be thinking.