British Open Winner 2015: Zach Johnson Celebration Highlights and Comments

Zach Johnson rolled in a curling, testing birdie putt on the 72nd hole to get to 15 under par and then won a three-man playoff with Louis Oosthuizen and Marc Leishman to win the weather-delayed British Open.

Johnson started the day at nine under par and came on with his best round of the tournament as he fired a six-under 66 at St. Andrews. He was in contention throughout the final round but needed to convert a long, curling putt on the 18th hole to take full advantage of his consistent round.

"

This victory dance is🔥🔥🔥 https://t.co/3IalXIz3Du http://t.co/IR77L3mjYW

— DraftKings (@DraftKings) July 20, 2015"

The win was Johnson's second major of his career. He also won the Masters in 2007. He joins a group of five other golfers who were victorious at Augusta and St. Andrew. Those golfers include Jack Nicklaus, Tiger Woods, Sam Snead, Seve Ballesteros and Nick Faldo.

Johnson ranks 162nd in driving distance, which was supposed to be a problem on a course that tends to favor longer hitters. However, Johnson overcame that issue with his dead-straight approach shots and clutch putting.

Alastair Grant/Associated Press

Johnson was overcome with emotion after winning the four-hole playoff. His voice cracked and tears dripped from his eyes as he spoke with ESPN's Tom Rinaldi after he had earned the victory. He had another 15 minutes to collect himself at the awards ceremony and was able to do that to a degree, but once again his voice cracked with emotion as he expressed his joy at winning the British Open.

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Zach Johnson: "I am honored to be your champion. Thank you very, very much."

— Golf Digest (@GolfDigest) July 20, 2015"

Leishman had held the lead at 16 under par, and it looked like he might be able to hold the lead through the finish. However, he dropped a stroke with a bogey on the 16th hole, which allowed Johnson's birdie putt at 18 to get him in the playoff.

Oosthuizen needed to make a difficult par putt on the 17th and a birdie on the 18th to tie for the lead after 72 holes. Oosthuizen also birdied the first hole of the four-hole playoff, and it looked like he might record his second British Open victory at St. Andrews.

David J. Phillip/Associated Press

However, Johnson matched his birdie on the first hole of the playoff and added another birdie on the second hole. Meanwhile, Leishman put himself in a hole with a bogey on the first extra hole and could not birdie the second.

All three bogeyed the third playoff hole, which meant that Johnson went to the final hole with a one-stroke lead over Oosthuizen.

Johnson had a chance to win it with a birdie putt, but his attempt slid just wide of the hole. That opened the gate for Oosthuizen with an eight-footer, but he just missed converting his putt.

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WATCH LIVE: Reaction from St. Andrews after Zach Johnson's triumph at #TheOpen: http://t.co/mHOJd8WK0R pic.twitter.com/umruC0wZZ7

— NBC Sports (@NBCSports) July 20, 2015"

Johnson started the tournament with a 66 on Thursday's opening round and was able to finish the wind-plagued second round on Friday. That meant he did not have to come out on the golf course on Saturday, when poor weather prevented the third round from being played.

"

Zach Johnson couldn't hold the tears back after winning the British Open. Highlights at 5:50 in sports on @ABC7News

— Robert Burton (@WJLABigShotBob) July 20, 2015"

As a result, Johnson was fresher than some of the other competitors for the final two rounds of the tournament. Coming from behind had not suited Johnson in the past but worked nicely for him in this tournament.

"

For first time in last eight majors, the winner (Zach Johnson) did not have at least a share of the 36-hole lead. pic.twitter.com/3HPDBem6qr

— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) July 20, 2015"

Johnson was thrilled by the accomplishment of winning both the green jacket at the Masters and Claret Jug that comes with winning the British Open.

"I'm honored, I'm humbled and it's beyond surreal," Johnson said in a press conference after the tournament concluded.

Jordan Spieth and Jason Day finished one stroke behind the leaders at 14 under par. Both men had a chance to get into the playoff, but both missed birdie putts on the 18th hole.

By falling short, Spieth missed his opportunity to win the first three majors of the year and join the legendary Ben Hogan as the only golfer who has accomplished that feat.

Spieth was quite gracious in defeat and congratulated Johnson in a tweet after shaking hands with him on the course.

"

Wow.. Almost. Nothing quite like @TheOpen at St Andrews. We fought hard. Very proud of a role model and friend of mine @ZachJohnsonPGA

— Jordan Spieth (@JordanSpieth) July 20, 2015"

American players have won the first three majors and have a chance to capture all four majors for the first time since 1982. 

"I've come a long way since 2007, when I kind of launched my golf career," Johnson told Rinaldi. "What this does is really put things in perspective for me, more than it already has. I play golf for a living. ... I'm just so happy."