Zach Johnson defeated Louis Oosthuizen and Marc Leishman in a play-off for The Open Championship to claim his second Major title.
That's what the record books will say.
For me this year's Open Championship will always be the one that Jordan Spieth lost, much like 2009 at Turnberry when Tom Watson was all set to win at the age of 59, but made a bogey at the 72nd then lost to Stewart Cink in the playoff.
I thought it wasn't going to be Spieth's day early when he four putted the 8th, but then like the champion he already is, he made birdies at 9 then 10, then like Tiger of old he made that 50 foot bomb on the 16th and we all thought he's going to do it. Everyone was making bogey at 17, I put that in the equation, but I didn't expect him to nearly hit his drive out of bounds over on the first fairway at 18!
The R&A had placed the flag just on the 18th green, guarded by the Valley of Sin and many before Jordan had spun back into it, making the crucial mistake of not hitting it past. When he pulled the wrong wedge and spun his back, I thought of Constantino Rocca who flubbed his previous chip then famously made his putt from the same spot as Jordan to get into the 4 hole play-off with John Daly in 1995, and Spieth damn near made his to get to -15 and join the play-off, but he didn't and his shot at history was done...
Now I will say this, Zach Johnson went out and shot 66, going out in 31 strokes and made a long birdie of his own to get to -15 after starting the day 3 shots behind Oosthiuzen, Day and Paul Dunne who incidently fell away to 78 and like so many of the others saw his chance of winning slip away.
Others like Marc Leishman who also went out in 31 and had a 2 shot lead at the 16th, but made bogey from the greenside bunker, and little Louis who made a gutsy par saving putt on 17, the birdied the 18th to get to -15.
In the play-off Johnson and Oosthuizen both birdied the first as Leishman three-putted from long range and Johnson edged ahead with another birdie on the second.
All three players bogeyed the 17th, but then Oosthuizen missed from 12 feet for birdie on the 18th to force sudden death, leaving Johnson the winner to his amazement, he didn't celebrate, just stood there as the players took off their hats to shake his hand..
All three players bogeyed the 17th, but then Oosthuizen missed from 12 feet for birdie on the 18th to force sudden death, leaving Johnson the winner to his amazement, he didn't celebrate, just stood there as the players took off their hats to shake his hand..
Somebody had to win it, it turned out to be Zach Johnson, but for me it will always be the one others lost, none more so than Jordan Spieth. However let's remember just three weeks ago at Chambers Bay. Dustin Johnson 3 putted from 12 feet to allow Jordon Spieth to win the US Open.
Golf is a cruel game at times, but don't tell Zach Johnson that this morning. He is forever the 2015 champion golfer of the year.
Now it's on to the Abbey for the RBC Canadian Open, where Tim Clarke is the defending champion.
Bryan
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