Best performer
Ewan Murray Zach Johnson. Just because he isn’t extroverted, or well-known by those with only a loose knowledge of golf, doesn’t mean he wasn’t a worthy winner. A heavy mention, too, for the Silver Medal winner Jordan Niebrugge.
Andy Bull Other than the man who won it? Ivor Robson, who is retiring after 41 years as the Open’s announcer. Robson says that each Open week he loses a stone in weight because he restricts himself to one sandwich and one glass of water every 24 hours. It’s the only way he can get through the day without taking any toilet breaks. The Open won’t sound the same without that distinctive intonation. “And on the tee … ”
Mark Tallentire Clearly Zach Johnson proved to be the best over the five days but a big shout out for Marc Leishman, the Australian who pulled out of this year’s Masters when his wife became seriously ill and was given a 5% chance of survival. He contemplated giving up the game to become a single parent to their two children. At St Andrews he was the last player to get to 16 under par, and that after making the cut by only one shot.
Scott Murray The consistently brilliant Jason Day. Just three bogeys all week. Watching him fight back tears on 18 as he came within a foot of the play-off was tough. It’ll happen for him soon.
James Riach Obviously Zach Johnson overall, but Paul Dunne punched above his weight. He might have fallen away rapidly on Monday, but the Irish amateur’s third round was flawless and – remarkably – he led the Open going into the final day. His second into 17 on Sunday was the best approach into the Road Hole I saw all week.
Bryan A Graham Let’s hear it for the amateurs. Jordan Niebrugge, Ollie Schniederjans, Ashley Chesters and Paul Dunne, who all finished in the top 30. The future is bright.
Was Rory missed?
EM Yes. The tournament still carried on – and on, and on – but the loss of the McIlroy v Spieth dynamic was undoubtedly unfortunate. McIlroy’s prominence in any event adds excitement.
AB Of course, he’s the world’s No1-ranked player. But was it still fun without him? Sure. At the start of the final day there were seven major winners within three shots of the lead along with a couple of regular runners-up and a handful of rank outsiders. It was the perfect set-up.
MT He would have added to the occasion, as would a fit and in-form Tiger Woods, but in the final analysis the last two days of action were drama-packed enough as it was. Out of sight, out of mind.
SM Yes, If only because the pressure on poor Jordan Spieth as sole young gunslinger proved too much in the end. Counter-intuitively, Rory’s absence may have cost Spieth the Hogan Slam.
JR No. His name was hardly mentioned, other than briefly by Zach Johnson in his closing press conference. More than enough going on without him.
BG He’s been solid all season and positioned to peak at the tournament he won last year at Royal Liverpool. But even with the world No1 out of commission, there was no shortage of compelling plotlines.
Shot of the tournament
EM Paul Dunne has plenty cause to be proud of himself when he reflects on the Open. The 22-year-old Irish amateur’s gloriously faded, long-iron approach to the Road Hole on Sunday would make seasoned professionals feel proud. Louis Oosthuizen branded the shot one of the best he had ever seen.
AB Zach Johnson’s final-round putt on the 18th green, from 20 feet past the flag. Gave him a tie of the lead and put him through to the play-off after he had dropped a shot at 17. Clutch stuff.
MT Sergio García hit the pin at the difficult 17th with a 200-yard approach shot on Saturday and tapped in for birdie, but Paul Lawrie’s chip from behind the 15th tee to within inches of the pin at the 14th on Thursday just edged it. Then there was Louis Oosthuizen’s wonderful chip over the Valley of Sin at the 18th to give him a six-foot birdie and a place in the play-off.
SM Jordan Spieth’s monster putt across 16 felt instantly iconic, the moment that won an Open. It wouldn’t quite work out like that. But what a rush at the time. Rocca-esque.
JR Has to be Zach Johnson’s putt on the 72nd hole to set up the play-off. A decisive stroke that drifted left to right and into the cup. It would have been better had that happened on the 18th play-off hole, but a magnificent putt under pressure nonetheless.
BG Jordan Spieth’s bid for a history-making grand slam seemed back on when he drained a crucial birdie putt on the 16th to pull within a share of the lead. Alas, a fatal bogey on the Road Hole loomed.
Best moment
EM 6pm on Saturday and the resumption of play after 10 and a half hours. It finally seemed possible that the Open would finish in July.
AB A crow pecked at Charl Schwartzel’s ball and knocked it two feet on down the fairway on Sunday. But that aside, Jordan Spieth’s putt on 16 during the final round to take a share of the lead. It was from around 40 feet, over one hump, and around a couple more. And then he missed one from a fifth of the distance on 17.
MT Louis Oosthuizen draining his putt at the 18th for a birdie to get him into the play-off with Zach Johnson and Marc Leishman. Miss it and you’re going home.
SM Nick Faldo made a valedictory birdie at the Road Hole – one of only nine all week – then waltzed down 18 bedecked in his 1987 Pringle. Pure showbiz. Paul Azinger will have shuddered at the very sight.
JR For all the wrong reasons, and not one I particularly enjoyed, but watching Tiger Woods chunk one into the burn on the opening hole sticks out as most memorable. It was a warning of things to come. Will he ever be in contention again?
BG The caddie Damon Green showing off his dance moves after Zach Johnson’s birdie on the 72nd hole to move to 15 under par and a play-off.
Biggest disappointment
EM Nick Faldo’s yellow sweater. Followed closely by Tiger Woods; his decline is well-versed but he should be able to play the Old Course blindfolded. Woods wasn’t even close to being competitive.
AB Saturday involved 11 hours staring at the grass and waiting for “the wind to reach acceptable levels”, as the R&A put it. Though for at least the last two of them, it was nothing but a stiff breeze with the odd strong gust.
MT Players and spectators alike having to sit around on Saturday instead of getting involved with the cut and thrust of moving day due to the high winds which caused play to be suspended for more than 10 hours. Perhaps it would be an idea for the R&A to plant more gorse to protect the exposed 11th and 13th greens which were rendered unplayable due to the wind coming in over the Eden Estuary.
SM Jordan Spieth missing out on the Hogan Slam. Another Jason Day close call. Sergio García’s collapse. Adam Scott’s collapse. Phil Mickelson leaving his birdie blitz way too late. The Open being over for another year.
JR The weather. Friday’s early rain was a setback, but it was the wind on Saturday that caused chaos. You had to feel sorry for those who had tickets just for the day, ending up spending hours in the bar instead of on the course. There were some well lubricated individuals come the evening.
BG Tiger Woods, who has now missed the cut at back-to-back majors for the first time as a professional and is projected to drop to No258 in this week’s rankings. It’s over.
I liked being at St Andrews because …
EM You instantly appreciate the historic significance of a venue which first hosted an event in 1873 and still can today generally untouched, testing the world’s best players therein. An ancient championship and links in modern context.
AB The golf was on. I certainly didn’t come for the bagpipers.
MT The Open is the greatest show on Earth and it was being played there – and I wouldn’t be anywhere else.
JR What’s not to like about watching the Open at the home of golf? Walking down the stretch and into the heart of town is one of the game’s best finishes.
BG St Andrews lived up to its lofty reputation as the home of golf. The Open just seems bigger when it’s held here, an entire town that gives itself up to sport.
