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The 2015 British Open came with all the sights and sounds that past editions of this tournament have given fans: Extreme weather conditions, near upsets, miraculous shots, and a surprise winner in a four-hole playoff.
In the end, a ‘Johnson’ won the Open Championship, but it wasn’t Dustin, who led after the first two rounds. Instead, Zach Johnson worked his up the leaderboard, shooting a final round of 66 and finishing the season’s third major at 15-under. The 39-year-old would go on to win a four-hole aggregate playoff over South Africa’s Louis Oosthuizen and Australia’s Marc Leishman. Johnson claimed his first career British Open and his second major championship; earning the title as “Champion Golfer of the Year” and the famed Claret Jug trophy.
Johnson’s long birdie putt on the 72nd hole was followed by some interesting dance moves from his caddie Damon Green.
Zach Johnson’s caddie has the best birdie dance. https://t.co/q0lHcj91Xf
— SportsNation (@SportsNation) July 20, 2015
Jordan Spieth’s quest of the season Grand Slam has come to an end, but not without same drama. The 21-year-old Texan began with four birdies and a double-bogey on the front nine and would follow up with two more birdies on the 10th and 16th holes that put him in a tie for the lead. However, a bogey on the 17th and a trip to the ‘Valley of Sin’ on the closing hole would prevent him from winning the 144th British Open. Spieth finished in a tie for fourth and will attempt to resume his majors hunt next month at Whistling Straits at the PGA Championship.
NOTABLES:
Irish amateur Paul Dunne played in the final pairing on Monday with 2010 Champion Oosthuizen, but seemed to let the thrill of the Open get the best of him. The 22-year-old shot a 6-over final round at St. Andrews and ended in a tie-for-30th as the tournament’s 3rd-best amateur. The top amateur player and winner of the Silver Medal was American Jordan Niebrugge, who finished tied-for-sixth alongside Danny Willett, Justin Rose, and Sergio Garcia.
Champion Golfer of the Year Zach Johnson at The R&A Clubhouse with Silver Medal winner Jordan Niebrugge. pic.twitter.com/11lHaXBX3p — The Open (@TheOpen) July 20, 2015
While Rory McIlroy was denied the chance to defend his 2014 Open title to a ruptured ankle, 2013 winner Phil Mickelson was certainly in the mix. The San Diego native made six birdies and no bogeys, but would suffer a triple-bogey on the 17th (the “Road Hole”) after hooking his tee shot onto the hotel balcony that dropped him to a tie for 20th with nine other players.
Next year’s Open Championship, the 145th staging of the storied tournament, will stay in Scotland at the Royal Troon Golf Club for the first time in 12 years.
