Zach Johnson is the winner of the 2015 British Open, defeating Louis Oosthuizen and Marc Leishman in a four-hole, aggregate-score playoff to earn his second major title.
Johnson played the four-hole loop of Nos. 1, 2, 17 and 18 at the Old Course in 1 under par, while Oosthuizen played them in even. Leishman fell to 2 over after a bogey on the 17th, the third playoff hole, and wasn't a factor on 18.
The 39-year-old from Iowa took control of the playoff with two opening birdies, but got into trouble on the Road Hole, pulling his second shot left of the Road Hole bunker. Ultimately, Johnson made a bogey 5.
On the 18th hole, Johnson and Oosthuizen both had birdie bids. Johnson missed his birdie putt from 25 feet to win outright, clearing the stage for Oosthuizen from 7 feet. The South African's putt went wanting, and Johnson had secured his first major since the 2007 Masters.
The three players secured their spots in the playoff at 15-under 273.
Johnson completed bookend rounds of 6-under 66 with a 35-foot birdie putt on the 18th hole, being the first in the clubhouse. Leishman had a birdie putt at the last that could have won the championship, but he missed on the high side, leading to a final-round 66 that concluded a 37-hole finish played in 14 under par. Oosthuizen birdied the 18th hole for the third time in four tries to get to the playoff.
Jordan Spieth's bid for the single-season Grand Slam ended at the Home of Golf. After a 100-foot, four-putt double bogey at the par-3 eighth, Spieth rallied with consecutive birdies on the ninth and 10th holes to regain the shots. A 30-foot birdie on the 16th got him into a share for the lead. However, Spieth's approach to the Road Hole left him with 60 yards to negotiate for an up-and-down. His par putt missed, making the 18th a must-birdie hole to get into overtime. Spieth's tee shot went well left, toward the same area where Aussie Matt Jones had holed out earlier on Monday for the only eagle on the 18th all week. Spieth's approach sucked back into the Valley of Sin, from which the 21-year-old could not make the putt.
Add Comment