Zach Johnson Wins British Open After Three-Player Playoff

Zach Johnson has won his second major title at the British Open, beating Louis Oosthuizen and Marc Leishman in a four-hole playoff at St. Andrews.

Johnson edged Oosthuizen by a stroke when the South African missed a 12-footer birdie putt at the 18th hole. Leishman finished three shots back Monday evening.

Johnson added to the Masters title he won in 2007.

It was Oosthuizen's second straight runner-up finish in a major. He finished one stroke behind Jordan Spieth at last month's U.S. Open.

Spieth missed the playoff by a stroke. His hopes of pursuing a historic Grand Slam at next month's PGA Championship were doomed by a bogey on the 17th hole in regulation, where he missed an 8-foot putt. He had won the Masters and the U.S. Open, giving him a shot at joining Ben Hogan as the only golfers to win the first three majors of the year.

Jason Day also came up one shot shy of the playoff, missing a 20-foot putt to end his hopes.

Johnson, Louis Oosthuizen and Marc Leishman were tied after 72 holes at 15-under 273, setting up the playoff.

Playing in the final group, Oosthuizen made a brilliant approach to 5 feet. He then rolled in the birdie putt to pull even with Johnson and Leishman, watching from alongside the clubhouse.

Copyright AP - Associated Press
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