Rookie Johnston wins Australian Open to clinch spot in The Open at Royal Portrush
Ryggs Johnston made a dream start to his DP World Tour career when he won the ISPS HANDA Australian Open in just his second start to clinch a place in The Open at Royal Portrush next summer.
The American (24) closed with a four-under 68 at Kingston Heath to win by three shots on 18 under par from home favourite Curtis Luck, who also secured an Open start alongside Marc Leishman, who tied for third with Jasper Stubbs but edged out his Australian compatriot for a trip to the Antrim coast by virtue of his higher world ranking.
The win marks a remarkable rise for Montana native Johnston, who turned professional earlier this year and came through Qualifying School before finishing tied 42nd on his DP World Tour debut in last week’s Australian PGA.
“To be honest, probably not,” Johnston said when asked if he had high hopes of winning.
“I turned up pretty tired from all the travel, Q-School, and everything.
“Didn't get a practice round here with the weather. I didn't really have any expectations, which probably helped me in the end.
“It was definitely a little stressful. The weather was kind of up and down.
“It was really nice for 15 minutes and really bad for 15 minutes and I knew I was right in it and just had to come about towards the end.
“And then when I walked up to 17 green, I finally saw the leaderboard and saw I had a three-shot lead and then I could take a little bit of a breath and just say, I just need to hit a couple more good shots and I'll be done.”
The former Arizona State golfer is now looking forward to being fully exempt on tour and making his major debut.
“It feels great, just knowing I’ll have more playing opportunities and getting into bigger events,” added Johnston who revealed this week he is named after the Mel Gibson character from the Lethal Weapon movies. “It hasn't quite sunk in yet, but it's an amazing feeling.
“I've got a lot of messages from friends back home saying the whole town is watching.
“It's just really cool to have that kind of support and the sort of thing you don't see much other than small towns like I'm from.
“Arizona State prepared me for this kind of moment. The team around me, the coaches have helped.
“The coach was one of the reasons I decided to play Q-School for this tour but everyone around me, my family and friends, girlfriend.
“My girlfriend's dad caddied for me this week just helping out. They've been all so supportive, and I'm just so lucky.”
Johnston began the day in a share of the lead with Lucas Herbert but quickly took control with an eagle from the fringe at the opening hole.
He had his ups and downs on the front nine but turned in one-under, tied on 15-under with Herbert and Luck.
Herbert's challenge faded with three bogeys on the way home but Johnston birdied the 10th, 14th and 15th to lead on his own on 18-under before avoiding trouble over the closing holes.
Luck finished with two bogeys, but 68 gave him one of three Open places.
Luck, a previous Asia-Pacific Amateur and US Amateur champion, will make his first appearance in The Open after finishing runner-up on 15-under-par 272 to take the second qualifying place.
Leishman claimed the last qualifying place courtesy of his higher position in the Official World Golf Ranking after he tied for third with Stubbs one shot further back on 14-under-par 273.
Leishman is a previous runner-up in The Open, losing out in a play-off to Zach Johnson at St Andrews in 2015.
In the Australian Women’s Open, Korea’s Jiyai Shin shot a three-under 70 at Kingston Heath to win by two shots from defending champion Ashleigh Buhai of South Africa on 17-under.
On Saturday, Korea’s Simon Seungmin Lee secured the Australian All Abilities Championship title on his G4D Tour debut.
