![\"Zach](\"images\/golf\/Zach-Johnson-lifting-the-Claret-Jug.jpg\")
St Andrews, Scotland: Zach Johnson of the United States outclassed South Africa’s Louis Oosthuizen and Australia’s Marc Leishman in a four-hole playoff to win The Open on Monday.<\/p>\nSt Andrews, Scotland: Zach Johnson of the United States outclassed South Africa’s Louis Oosthuizen and Australia’s Marc Leishman in a four-hole playoff to win The Open on Monday.<\/p>\n
Victory was especially sweet for the emotional Johnson as it was his second Major victory since he won The Masters in 2007.<\/p>\n
“I’m at a loss for words. But I’m grateful and humbled. I’m thankful. This is the birthplace of the game and that jug means so much,” said a tearful Johnson after watching Oosthuizen missed a birdie putt on the final playoff hole which would have sent the contest into a sudden-death.<\/p>\n
“I said it back in 2007 that I feel like god has given me this ability to play the game and blessed me with a talent. I’m going to relish this and I’m humbled by this. But my legacy should be my kids and my family,” added Johnson.<\/p>\n
With Johnson, Oosthuizen and Leishman finishing regulation play at 15-under-par 273, the playoff was decided over the first, second, 17th and 18th holes.<\/p>\n
Johnson drew first blood with birdies in his first two holes while Oosthuizen, the 2010 Open champion, made birdie-par.<\/p>\n
The treacherous road hole saw the trio making bogeys and Leishman was reduced to a mere spectator on the fourth hole after he had earlier bogeyed his first hole.<\/p>\n
Oosthuizen had the chance to extend the challenge with a birdie chance on 18 after Johnson had two-putted for par.<\/p>\n
But the South African could only watch in disappointment as his putt sailed agonisingly past the cup, giving Johnson the title.<\/p>\n
“It’s never nice to lose a playoff. I had the experience in 2012 at Augusta and I felt like I really had a good chance of winning this tournament. But I was just outplayed in the playoff,” said Oosthuizen.<\/p>\n
Asian Tour member Marcus Fraser of Australia mixed five birdies and three bogeys for a 70 and a share of 20th place while India’s Anirban Lahiri bettered his previous best of tied-31st in 2012 by closing with a 72 to finish tied for 30th.<\/p>\n
Reigning Order of Merit champion David Lipsky of the United States signed off with a 73 for a share of 58th place with Thailand’s Thongchai Jaidee further back in tied-65th place that also featured Asian Tour honorary member Ernie Els of South Africa.<\/p>\n
The Open witnessed a Monday finish for the first time since 1988 after gusty wind conditions disrupted play for much of the day on Saturday, leading the tournament to go into overtime.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
St Andrews, Scotland: Zach Johnson of the United States outclassed South Africa’s Louis Oosthuizen and Australia’s Marc Leishman in a four-hole playoff to win The Open on Monday.<\/p>\n
Victory was especially sweet for the emotional Johnson as it was his second Major victory since he won The Masters in 2007.<\/p>\n
“I’m at a loss for words. But I’m grateful and humbled. I’m thankful. This is the birthplace of the game and that jug means so much,” said a tearful Johnson after watching Oosthuizen missed a birdie putt on the final playoff hole which would have sent the contest into a sudden-death.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":true,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"tdm_status":"","tdm_grid_status":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[9],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-22460","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","category-golf-golf"],"yoast_head":"\n