Ceci Ferrara
July 21, 2015
Sports Writer
Sports Insider
Photos: Wendy Thompson/DC Spotlight Newspaper
After five days and 76 holes, the British Open crowned its 114th victor on Monday: 39-year old American golfer Zach Johnson.
Johnson, whose other major tournament came at the Masters in 2007, now has a Claret Jug to go along with his green jacket. The Iowa native seemed both stunned and grateful after his unexpected victory.
“I can’t, I’m at a loss for words,” he told reporters. “I’m grateful, I’m humbled, I’m thankful. I’m honored, this is the birthplace of the game, and that jug means so much in sports, specifically this tournament and golf. It hasn’t set in yet.”
Johnson’s victory ended Jordan Spieth’s bid for a grand slam. The young golfer was also eyeing to become the first player since Ben Hogan in 1953 to win the Masters, U.S. Open and British Open in the same year. Despite declaring he “didn’t want to finish third” before he was eliminated from contention, Spieth remained positive in his fourth-spot finish.
“Although we came in wanting to be two shots better than what we finished, with everything that went on this week and the momentum we came in with, I’m very pleased with the way we battled,” he said.
With the pressure to perform and history knocking at his door, Spieth never lost his composure despite weather conditions forced Monday play. At the eighth hole he was just two shots shy of the lead, but the heavy wind derailed him. He birded on the next two holes, but a missed put on the 17th put him in a tough spot. Needing a birdie on the final hole, his drive was off the mark and finished one shot from a three-man playoff.
“Today was a really tough day,” Spieth said. “Just made a mental mistake on No. 8, and it seemed to have cost me as well on 18, just not giving myself a chance…I just wish I had given myself a little better opportunity.”
Though Spieth missed his opportunity, Johnson seized his. After tying with Marc Leishman and Louis Oosthuizen at -15 under in the final round, he joined them at the first hole for a four-hole playoff. Less than an hour later, Johnson emerged victorious, with the best overall score.
While it was a special day for Johnson, who was moved to tears by the win, the disappointment of Spieth’s loss could be felt by golf fans disappointed in the chance to see history. Though the young Texan missed out on his chance this time, that doesn’t mean he still isn’t hoping to join Hogan in the history books.
“That would be the next goal as far as the history goes,” he said. Though obviously not the outcome he was hoping for, Spieth said he was not going to dwell on. “…I won’t beat myself up too much. It was a great week.”
Spieth, along with the other golfers, will have a couple of weeks to rest before they head to Wisconsin for the PGA Championship.
