For all the pre-championship hype over distance being such a ginormous advantage at the Old Course, turns out the Open was won with good old-fashioned grit. Many (including yours truly) predicted that Dustin Johnson would overpower the Old Course with his jaw-dropping drives, but it was another Johnson who ended up hoisting the Claret Jug — Zach, of course.
Jordan Spieth didn’t win the Open Championship. He didn’t win his third consecutive major. He didn’t keep the Grand Slam watch alive. It’s okay, though. Spieth is still a winner — after all, he has the Green Jacket and the U.S. Open trophy.
The 21-year-old Texan also put on the run of a champion on Monday in the final round at the Old Course; one that will inspire the generations of golfers to come. Spieth is undoubtedly a winner.
Phil Mickelson was making an early run at the Open Championship on Monday — he had just narrowly missed a birdie putt on no. 16, but he was still six-under for the final round when he stepped up to the tee on the Road Hole, arguably the most difficult par-4 in the game, and he let one fly…into the balcony of the Old Course Hotel.
Benign conditions yielded low scores at St Andrews in the third round of the Open Championship. Who took advantage and went low? Lots. Who didn’t? Just a few. All in all, Monday at the Old Course is set up for a fantastic final round and hopefully a spectacular ending to the best major of the year (IMHO).
Following what was arguably his worst putting performance of the year, where the Masters and U.S. Open champion needed 37 putts en route to an even par 72 in the second round at St Andrews, Jordan Spieth required a low one to get back into the mix on Sunday at The Open.
The Golden Boy delivered, posting a six-under 66 in the third round to put him at 11-under for the championship and just one back of the 54-hole leaders, amateur Paul Dunne, Louis Oosthuizen, who took home the Claret Jug the last time the Open was at the Old Course in 2010, and Jason Day.
David Duval turned back the clock Saturday morning at St Andrews. Playing in the first group out, Duval, who is better known these days for his commentary as a Golf Channel analyst than as a professional golfer, posted a fine five-under 67 — the lowest score at the Open since he carded the same number in the final round of his lone major title — under optimal scoring conditions.
Thing is, you probably won’t. Dustin Johnson is dusting the Old Course and isn’t showing any signs of letting up. He’s overpowering St Andrews and the only person who can probably beat him is himself. Unless he gets in his own way as he has in four previous majors, look for Johnson only to extend his lead in the third round Sunday (yep, it’s officially a Monday finish after yet another long delay on Saturday due to gale-force winds), which will make him nearly impossible to beat at the 144th Open Championship.
Inclement weather and long delays forced Tiger Woods to make it to the weekend, but for the third time in four majors, he missed the cut, posting a three-over 75 for a seven-over 36-hole total.
Woods, who cruised to victory at the Open at St Andrews in 2000 and 2005, only beat seven golfers, which included two guys, Sir Nick Faldo and Tom Watson, bidding farewell to the Old Course in ceremonial starts. (Meanwhile, Golf Channel analyst David Duval made the cut on the number with an even par.)
Torrential downpour delayed the second round of the Open Championship by three hours and 14 minutes. Small ponds formed around the Old Course’s fairways and greens — a weird sight to see at a links course. The grounds crew worked frantically squeegeeing and pumping the standing water to make the course playable. With the rain easing off, the R&A announced that play would resume at 10:00am local time. However, that called for a long day for all, with first-round leader Dustin Johnson not teeing off until 5:48pm, alongside Jordan Spieth, the Masters and U.S. Open champion, and Hideki Matsuyama.
Weather you like it or not, here are winners and losers from Friday at St Andrews. (#sorrynotsorry)
Henrik Stenson struck his tee shot on the par-4 15th near a bird, which decided to do a little dance around his ball, in the second round of the Open Championship at St Andrews. Luckily, the bird was unable to pick up the ball, but it did have a go and pecked at it for a bit before giving up.
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