Selected others: -9 L Donald (Eng), M Kaymer (Ger), A
Chesters (Eng) (a); -7 P Mickelson (US) P Dunne (Ire) (a);
-5 P Lawrie (Sco); -4 D Johnson (US).
American Zach
Johnson claimed his second major title with victory in a three-man play-off on a
thrilling final day in the 144th Open Championship.
The 2007 Masters
winner finished a shot ahead of South African Louis Oosthuizen and three
ahead of Australian Marc Leishman over four extra holes.
Earlier, the three ended on 15 under to lead a competitive field at St
Andrews.
Jordan Spieth's hopes of a Grand Slam were ended as he finished on 14 under
along with Australia's Jason Day.
Joint halfway leader Danny Willett and fellow Englishman Justin Rose both
carded two-under 70s, as did Spaniard Sergio Garcia, to finish joint sixth on 11
under.
American Jordan Niebrugge also hit a 70 to finish 11 under and claim the
Silver Medal for leading amateur ahead of Ireland's Paul Dunne, the joint
overnight leader, who shot a six-over 78 to drop to joint 30th on six under.
Australian Adam Scott was in contention but a poor back nine gave him a
one-under 71 and a share of 10th on 10 under.
Ireland's Padraig Harrington, who claimed back-to-back Open titles in 2007 and 2008, started well
with three birdies in his first five holes but a double-bogey on six checked his
progress and he ended up carding a three-over 75 to finish joint 20th on seven
under.
How the play-off was decided
Johnson struck just 15 putts over the first 12 holes of his final round on
Monday to record seven birdies and his skill on the green again came to the fore
in the play-off.
The 39-year-old holed challenging putts on the first and second to claim a
birdie and a par and go one shot clear of Oosthuizen and two ahead of Leishman.
Leishman, who had followed his stunning third-round 64 with a six-under 66 on
Monday to head the leaderboard after missing the cut by a shot, fell out of
contention with two pars.
This left 2010
Open winner Oosthuizen, whose birdie on the last gave him a 69 and a shot at
the Claret Jug, to challenge Johnson but after a par on the third extra hole he
pushed his putt on the last just wide to give the American the win.
Spieth Slam hopes dashed
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Masters and US Open winner Spieth
started well in pursuit of a 2015 Grand Slam, birdieing three of the first
seven, but a wayward tee shot and then a hugely over-hit putt on the par-three
eighth ultimately led to a double bogey that looked to have cost him dear.
But such is the ability and cool temperament of the 21-year-old, he hit back
with successive birdies on the ninth and 10th before sinking a 30-foot putt to
join the clubhouse leaders on 15 under.
However, a bogey on the road hole 17th left him needing a birdie on the last
- and when his chip rolled back off the green his hopes were left hanging on a
putt from just off the green that proved too much for the world number two. His
three-under-par 69 was one shot shy of the play-off.
Jordan Spieth missed out on a third
successive major title
The leading Brits
A run of four successive birdies from 11 to 14, helped Sheffield-born Willett
to 11 under and joint sixth place, eclipsing his previous best Open finish - the
tied 15th he managed at Muirfield in 2013.
US Open champion
Rose famously finished fourth as an amateur at Royal Birkdale in 1998 but his
own 11-under overall score gives him his best finish in 12 Opens as a
professional.
Fellow Englishman Luke Donald (68) and Anthony Wall (70) both ended on nine
under for a share of 12th, but it was a bad day for Scottish pair Paul Lawrie
and Marc Warren, who carded 73 and 74 respectively to finish five under and tied
for 40th.
Open's impact on the world rankings
|
|---|
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Johnson's second major victory earns him a climb of 13 places up the Official World Golf Rankings from 25th to
12th. |
|
Leishman's share of second place earns him an even bigger leap from 61st to
27th, with Oosthuizen up four places from 17th to 13th. |
|
Spieth remains in second, his tie for fourth taking him closer to the world
number one, the injured Rory McIlroy. |
|
The only Englishman in the top 10 is still Rose, who climbs back up three
places to fifth. |
The nearly men
Spaniard Garcia remains without a major title after claiming a 20th top-10
finish in one of golf's top four tournaments, courtesy of a round of 70 that
began well but tailed away, with bogeys at 12, 13 and 17, to an 11-under finish.
It was another emotional finale for Jason Day, who was visibly upset after
his par on the 18th left him one shot short of the play-off. His only
consolation is an impressive ninth top-10 finish in his 19th major.
America's halfway leader Dustin Johnson continued his slide from the majestic
to the mediocre, suffering a hangover from the three bogeys that ended his
efforts on Sunday by dropping another three shots on the front nine to tumble
further down the leaderboard.
A second successive three-over 75 left the US Open runner-up a disappointing
four under overall and to reflect on another missed opportunity.
Amateur hour
Irishman Dunne, 22, was calmness personified on Sunday with a superb
six-under 66 to take a share of the overnight lead but looked far less assured
during Monday's final round, starting with a bogey as his professional rivals
racked up birdies.
He hit three wayward tee shots on the par-four second before finally finding
his first shot, which had come to rest on a green on an adjacent course. It was
in bounds and playable but a second bogey followed.
Birdies at the third and fifth steadied him but a back nine comprising four
bogeys and a double bogey saw him plummet to six under and fourth in the race
for the Silver Medal.
That honour went to American Niebrugge, whose final-round 70 saw him finish
two shots ahead of compatriot Oliver Sneiderjans (67) and England's Ashley
Chesters, who followed Sunday's 67 with a three-under 69.
"I would rank it the top accomplishment I've had so far: the Silver Medal in
a major championship, especially at St Andrews, is definitely a dream come
true," said Niebrugge, 21.
Early birdies
As in Sunday's third round, the course was there for the taking on Monday
morning courtesy of calm, dry weather.
American Brendon Todd paved the way for what was possible in such conditions,
going out at 09:40 BST to shoot a six-under 66 and establish an early nine-under
clubhouse lead, matched soon after by England's Luke Donald and Germany's
two-time major winner Martin Kaymer, who both carded 68.
Phil Mickelson was on course to better both but hammered his tee shot at the
17th way right and on to one of the balconies of the Old Course Hotel as part of
a triple-bogey that ultimately led to a three-under 69 and the end of his
prospects at seven under overall. |
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