British Open Leaderboard 2015: Final Results and Standings for Monday

Golf fans probably wanted Jordan Spieth to win the British Open on Monday. After all, it would have put him just one major away from sweeping all four on the season, a truly amazing feat. And who doesn't want to witness the continued ascension of a superstar?

But Spieth wasn't able to reach the four-hole aggregate playoff between Zach Johnson, Louis Oosthuizen and Marc Leishman, falling one stroke (and a few inches of his birdie putt on No. 18) short. Instead, golf fans were treated to a gracious, humble and emotional champion in Zach Johnson, who won when Oosthuizen couldn't sink his birdie putt on the final playoff hole. 

Johnson's post-play remarks were pure class, per the PGA Tour on Twitter:

Here's your final leaderboard.

Johnson certainly was a worthy champion. He shot six under for the day and saved his best for last, as his crucial birdie putt on No. 18 earned him a place in the final trio. In the playoff he played well, posting birdies on his first two holes and avoiding any major mistakes. 

Oosthuizen certainly had his chances, but his inability to execute two very makeable birdies on No. 17 and 18 in the playoff round was his downfall. For a player who had been so calm, composed and steady throughout the day, it was a pretty big surprise. 

Leishman, unfortunately, was out of the playoff almost as soon as it started, as his bogey on No. 1 immediately put him a stroke behind. Things wouldn't get easier for him from there, though he played excellently throughout The Open, and reaching the playoff was a major accomplishment. 

For several other players, however, Monday was a rough day. Like Spieth, Jason Day had a birdie chance on No. 18 to reach the playoff. And like Spieth, he was unable to convert, failing once again to win a major. It was a very familiar result for Day, per Justin Ray of the Golf Channel:

Meanwhile, Paul Dunne, the amateur who came into the day tied atop the leaderboard, melted down on the final day, shooting a 78, which dropped him well out of contention. Or how about Dustin Johnson, who led after 36 holes but shot consecutive scores of 75 in the final two rounds. 

But outside of the champion, Spieth was the story. In a remarkable span of three holes to close his tournament, he made an unbelievable birdie, bogeyed No. 17 when he had a straightforward putt for par and came just inches short of making a long putt for a birdie and a shot at the playoff. 

Like Johnson, however, Spieth was all class in defeat, as Anita Marks of Bleacher Report noted:

So in the quest for a Grand Slam this year, it's up to Serena Williams, who is a U.S. Open win away from earning all of tennis' major titles this year. Spieth was so close to gunning for one of his own, but the young superstar couldn't quite conquer St. Andrews. 

He isn't the first who hasn't been able to do so and won't be the last. He will likely have his fair share of major victories to come, however, which seems like a pretty safe bet.