Zach Johnson wins British Open title after three-way playoff - LA Times
Zach Johnson wins British Open title after three-way playoff
Zach Johnson
Facundo Arrizabalaga / EPA
Zach Johnson kisses the famed Claret Jug after winning the British Open at St. Andrews, Scotland, on Monday.
Zach Johnson kisses the famed Claret Jug after winning the British Open at St. Andrews, Scotland, on Monday.
(Facundo Arrizabalaga / EPA)
Austin Knoblauch Contact Reporter
Zach Johnson claimed the British Open title Monday after winning a three-way playoff against Louis Oosthuizen and Marc Leishman.
Johnson missed a birdie putt from 15 feet out on No. 18, but took the win after Oosthuizen missed his birdie try from about eight feet.
“I'm grateful. I'm humbled. I'm honored,” said an emotional Johnson immediately after his victory. “This is the birthplace of the game, and that [Claret Jug] means so much in sports. I felt great. I'm just in awe right now.”
Johnson's first major win came at the Masters in 2007.
Oosthuizen finished one stroke behind Johnson in the four-hole playoff; Leishman was three strokes behind.
It marked Oosthuizen's second straight runner-up finish in a major. He finished second to Jordan Spieth at the U.S. Open last month.
British Open , amateur Paul Dunne still had a chance at the Claret Jug, lingering just three strokes off a tightly bunched lead pack.
It would be an improbable victory for the 22-year-old Irishman, but it would not be very lucrative.
In a series of tweets...
Through early play in the final round of the British Open , amateur Paul Dunne still had a chance at the Claret Jug, lingering just three strokes off a tightly bunched lead pack.
It would be an improbable victory for the 22-year-old Irishman, but it would not be very lucrative.
In a series of tweets...
(David Wharton)
Johnson, 39, made the playoff after shooting a final-round six-under 66.
Spieth missed the playoff by one stroke after finishing at 14 under for the tournament. He was attempting to join Ben Hogan as the only golfers to win the first three majors of the year.
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11:41 a.m.: Louis Oosthuizen may have lost his chance at a second-career British Open victory. The South African missed a short, five-foot putt on 17 to allow Johnson to stay ahead by one despite bogeying the hole.
Johnson slightly overshot his approach to 17th green and landed in the tightly hugged rough just feet behind the pin. He missed his chip to the pin, but Oosthuizen failed to capitalize, and remains one back after his bogey.
The 144th British Open is underway at the Old Course in St. Andrews, Scotland.
Marc Leishman also bogeyed the hole, and remains two shots back of leader Johnson.
The group now heads to the par-4 18th hole.
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11:27 a.m.: Zach Johnson leads through two of four playoff holes at the British Open.
Following a solid approach, Johnson sank a 25-foot putt to birdie the hole and move to two under for the playoff. Louis Oosthuizen and Marc Leishman narrowly missed their birdie attempts.
Johnson, the 2007 Masters champion, leads Oosthuizen by one stroke; Leishman by three.
The final two playoff holes will be played on Nos. 17 and 18.
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11:16 a.m.: Marc Leishman's playoff has gotten off to a rough start.
After overshooting his approach, the unheralded Australian came up well short on his long birdie attempt before missing a six-footer to bogey the Old Course's No. 1 hole.
Louis Oosthuizen and Zach Johnson fared better, sinking birdies to remain tied after the first of four playoff holes. Both had solid approaches, with Oosthuizen dropping a 15-foot putt and Johnson sinking his shot from about 12 feet out.
The course's par-4 No. 2 hole is next.
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11:07 a.m.: Louis Oosthuizen will battle Marc Leishman and Zach Johnson in a three-way playoff for the British Open title at St. Andrews.
Oosthuizen, the 2010 British Open champion, birdied the 18th hole with a six-foot putt to finish the round at 15 under.
The British Open champion will be determined by a four-hole, aggregate score playoff. The playoff will be held of holes Nos. 1, 2, 17 and 18.
Jordan Spieth finished tied for fourth with Jason Day at 14 under.
"It stings a little bit, but I thought I gave it a good run," Spieth said after his round. "Right now, it's just a tough feeling to be that close in a major. It doesn't matter about the historical element."
Amateur Paul Dunne, who started the round tied for the lead, struggled and finished with a six-over par 78. American Jordan Niebrugge was the highest-finishing amateur at 11 under. He is the first amateur to finish in the top 10 at the British Open since 1960.
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10:41 a.m.: Jordan Spieth's streak of major victories is over.
The Masters and U.S. Open champion barely missed a 30-foot birdie putt on 18 and finished one stroke behind the leaders. He finished at 14 under for the tournament after a final round 69.
His birdie putt attempt rolled to the left just inches from the pin.
Louis Oosthuizen trails clubhouse co-leaders Marc Leishman and Zach Johnson by one shot as he heads to the 18th tee. Jason Day bogeyed on 17 to fall to two shots back heading into the final hole. An emotional Day wiped away the tears after missing his par putt.
Oosthuizen would force a three-man playoff if he birdies the 18th hole.
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10:33 a.m.: Jordan Spieth's flirtation with the top of the leaderboard was brief.
The 21-year-old fell out of a tie for the lead after missing an eight-foot par putt on the challenging 17th hole. He now heads to 18 needing a birdie to force a playoff.
He is one shot back of clubhouse leaders Marc Leishman and Zach Johnson, who stand at 15 under.
Spieth is tied with Jason Day and Louis Oosthuizen at 14 under. Oosthuizen still has two holes to play -- Spieth and Day are on their final hole.
U.S. amateur Jordan Niebrugge finished at 11 under with Sergio Garcia, Danny Willett and Justin Rose. 
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10:25 a.m.: Jordan Spieth is sitting in a three-way tie at the top of the British Open leaderboard following a stunning putt on 16.
Spieth sank a 30-foot putt to move into a tie with Marc Leishman and Zach Johnson at 16 under.
Leishman finished with a six-under 66.
Jason Day and Louis Oosthuizen remain in contention at one shot back.
If there's a tie after 18 holes, there will be a four-hole, aggregate score playoff to determine the British Open champion.
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9:55 a.m.: Marc Leishman's first bogey on the day has made for a wide-open finish at the British Open.
The 31-year-old Australian bogeyed on 16 to fall into a tie with Zach Johnson, who finished his round at 15 under.
Masters and U.S. Open champion Jordan Spieth, Jason Day and Louis Oosthuizen each trail the leaders by a shot.
U.S. amateur Jordan Niebrugge, 21, sits two shots back after a bogey on 17. He's attempting to become the first amateur to win the British Open since Bobby Jones accomplished the feat in 1930. He currently plays golf at Oklahoma State University and is on pace to become the first amateur to finish in the top 10 at the British Open since 1960.
If there's a tie after 18 holes, there will be a four-hole, aggregate score playoff to determine the British Open champion.
Johnson has been practicing on a putting green in anticipation of a possible playoff.
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9:40 a.m.: Australian Marc Leishman, a one-time winner on the PGA tour, continues to be the surprise leader at the British Open.
Leishman stood one shot ahead of Zach Johnson at 16 under through 15 as he approaches some of the Old Course's toughest holes where par is often a celebrated achievement. He has seven birdies and no bogeys on the day.
Johnson finished with a cheer-inducing, 30-foot birdie putt on the 18th green to enter the clubhouse one shot off the lead. He shot a six-under 66 on the round.
Oosthuizen moved to 15 under after a birdie on 12 to break out of a four-way tie between Jordan Spieth, Zach Johnson, Jason Day and American amateur Jordan Niebrugge. However, he fell back down to 14 under after a bogey on 13.
Leishman's highest finish at a major came at the 2013 Masters when he finished fourth.
Danny Willett wrapped up his round with a 70 to finish at 11 under for the tournament.
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9:14 a.m.: Marc Leishman is the latest name to grace the top of the British Open leaderboard.
The Australian took possession of the lead from countryman Adam Scott and American Zach Johnson with a birdie on 12 to move to 16 under. He tied Scott and Johnson earlier after consecutive birdies on nine and 10. Leishman is at seven under for the day.
Leishman, 31, who tied Scott for fifth at last year's British Open, barely missed a 22-foot birdie putt on 11 that would have given him the outright lead earlier.
Johnson briefly held onto sole possession of the lead before bogeying on 13. He sits one shot behind Leishman. 
Scott fell to three shots behind Leishman after bogeys on 14 and 15.
Jordan Spieth double bogeyed on eight, but bounced back over the next two holes. He drained a beautiful, 15-foot birdie putt on nine before sinking a solid, eight-foot birdie putt on a slightly downhill sloped green.
Spieth is tied with Scott, Jason Day, and Louis Oosthuizen through 12 holes. Amateur Jordan Niebrugge, Sergio Garcia and Danny Willett are tied at 12 under. Amateur Paul Dunne, the only golfer among the leaders to not hit under par over the front nine, stood at 11 under through 10.
The wind is becoming more of a factor for the leaders as they tackle the back nine.
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8:32 a.m.: Jordan Spieth's double bogey on No. 8 has dropped him to three shots back of leaders Zach Johnson and Adam Scott.
Spieth, who is trying to become the first golfer to win three majors in a single year since Ben Hogan achieved the feat in 1953, stands at one under through the front eight.
Scott moved into a share of the lead after Johnson bogeyed on 13.
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7:55 a.m.: Zach Johnson, looking for his first major win since the 2007 Masters, leads the British Open at 16 under after going seven-under par through 12 holes.
Johnson, who opened with a 66 on Thursday, birdied on nine to break out of a five-way share for the lead. He followed with a 15-foot birdie on 10 to move out of a brief tie with Adam Scott before sinking another birdie on 12.
Scott, the 2013 Masters champion, is one shot back after going six under through 11. He is a shot ahead of Jordan Spieth, Jason Day and Louis Oosthuizen.
Spieth nearly eagled on five following a nice approach shot, but settled for a birdie. He sank another birdie on six to move to 14 under.
A disastrous tee shot by Padraig Harrington that landed in a tree led to a double bogey on six. The wind is once again picking up at St. Andrews, but it doesn't seem to be affecting the leaders too much. Light to moderate rain has been falling all afternoon.
Amateurs Jordan Niebrugge and Paul Dunne are tied at 12 under. They are looking to become the first amateurs to win the British Open since Bobby Jones in 1930.
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7:28 a.m.: Zach Johnson, Adam Scott, Marc Leishman and Padraig Harrington have moved into a share of the lead at 13 under with Louis Oosthuizen.
Johnson moved to four under on the afternoon with a birdie on seven and Scott hit three consecutive birdies on holes Nos. 6-8 to also move to four under.
Harrington, the 2007 and 2008 British Open winner, has three birdies through the first five holes and Leishman has four birdies over the front five.
Jordan Spieth, Jason Day, Sergio Garcia, Anthony Wall and American amateur Jordan Niebrugge are tied one shot back. Amateur Paul Dunne, who started the round with a share of the lead, sits at 10 under after opening with a bogey and birdie.
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7:02 a.m.: South African Louis Oosthuizen has taken over sole possession of the lead at the British Open -- for now.
The 2010 British Open champion birdied the first hole to move to 13 under and break out of a five-way tie for the lead. He came up just a little short on a long putt on No. 2 that would have given him a two-shot lead.
Oosthuizen surged up the leaderboard Sunday with a five-under 67. He is looking to win his first major since taking the Claret Jug five years ago.
Irish amateur Paul Dunne bogeyed the first hole and is tied with four others at 11 under. It was Dunne's first bogey on the front nine in the tournament.
Dunne shares his leaderboard spot with Ashley Chesters (five under on the day), Hideki Matsuyama (-4), Anthony Wall (-4) and Sergio Garcia (-2).
Zach Johnson birdied on No. 5 to move one shot back of Oosthuizen. He shares the spot with Jordan Spieth, Padraig Harrington and Jason Day.
The rain and wind have died down a little bit over the last 20 minutes.
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6:38 a.m.: Jordan Spieth didn't wait long to move to the top of the British Open leaderboard.
The 21-year-old birdied the first hole to move into a share of the lead with amateur Paul Dunne, Louis Oosthuizen, Jason Day and Padraig Harrington.
Harrington, who won consecutive British Open titles in 2007 and 2008, birdied his first two holes.
Ashley Chesters, Sergio Garcia, Anthony Wall and Zach Johnson sit one shot back. Garcia is two under through three.
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6:21 a.m.: The amateur surge at the British Open continues.
Englishman Ashley Chesters moved two within one shot of the leaders after finishing the front 10 at five under. Along with Paul Dunne, Jordan Niebrugge and Ollie Schniederjans, Chesters has been one of the biggest surprises of this year's British Open.
Schiederjans wrapped up his British Open at nine under after finishing with a five-under 67.
Niebrugge, who entered the round three shots behind the leaders at nine under, teed off a short time ago.
The penultimate pairing of Masters and U.S. Open champion Jordan Spieth and co-leader Jason Day have teed off as well. Dunne and Louis Oosthuizen are next as the rain and wind starts to pick up at St. Andrews.
Spieth is looking to become the first player since Ben Hogan in 1953 to win the first three majors of the year.
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5:46 a.m. PDT: For the first time in more than 25 years, the British Open will be decided on a Monday -- as long as the weather cooperates.
The Old Course at St. Andrews  hasn't been totally spared of the rain and wind that plagued it on Friday and Saturday, but the conditions have been favorable so far today.
But that could change. The forecast calls for pulses of rain throughout the afternoon that could develop into heavy showers.
The current playing conditions seemed to be favoring Phil Mickelson until a mishap on 17 destroyed his round. The 2013 British Open champion stood at six under on the day and two shots behind the leaders when his errant tee shot landed out of bounds on a hotel balcony. He eventually triple bogeyed the hole and finished at seven under.
Continuing a trend of standout amateur performances at this year's British Open, American Ollie Schniederjans got off to a blazing start. The former Georgia Tech star is six under through 16 holes, sitting in a four-way tie at 10 under with two-time British Open winner  Padraig Harrington , Marcus Fraser and Luke Donald .
The leaders at 12 under -- amateur Paul Dunne, 2010 British Open champion Louis Oosthuizen and Jason Day -- are scheduled to tee off at 6:30 a.m. PDT (2:30 p.m. local time). Masters and U.S. Open champion Jordan Spieth, who sits one shot back, tees off at 6:20 a.m.
The last time the British Open finished on a Monday was in 1988.
Continue to check back here for the latest from the 144th edition of the British Open.