American Ryggs Johnston had played just one professional tournament in Australia and had never set foot on Kingston Heath before his dominant win at the ISPS Handa Australian Open. Turns out that was the perfect recipe. With no expectations, the 24-year-old walked away from a week spent on a rain-logged Melbourne Sandbelt with a Stonehaven Cup and a start in the 153rd Open at Royal Portrush next year.
Johnston, a former Arizona State University college golfer just five months into his professional career, had only played a practice round at Open co-host Victoria Golf Club due to torrential rain on Wednesday that washed out his hopes of seeing Kingston Heath pre-tournament. No matter – he played three dominant days from Friday onwards at Kingston Heath and won by three shots over Perth’s Curtis Luck.
The Montana pro, whose father named him after Mel Gibson’s character, Martin Ryggs, from “Lethal Weapon”, carded a final-round 68 to finish at 18-under-par (269). Luck made two closing bogeys during a 68 that left him 15-under (272). LIV Golf star Marc Leishman (69) and Jasper Stubbs (70) tied for third at 14-under.
The silver lining for Leishman and Luck was they joined Johnston in securing the three spots in the Open Championship for next year via the qualifying series that includes the Australian Open.
Johnston only earned his DP World Tour card earlier this month through qualifying school. He won just his second start as a pro on the European circuit, which co-sanctions the Australian Open and PGA.
“I turned up pretty tired already from the travel and Q-School and I didn’t get a practice round (at Kingston Heath) with the weather,” said Johnston, who finished T-43 at the Australian PGA last week. “So I didn’t really have any expectations which probably helped me in the end. It hasn’t quite sunk in yet, but an amazing feeling.”
Johnston started today tied for the lead with Lucas Herbert but made an opening-hole eagle to signal his intentions for the day before a wild front nine that included three bogeys and two birdies. Johnston pointed to the 14th as the pivotal moment. A day after making a disastrous, double-bogey 7 at the par 5 on Saturday, he recorded a birdie when it counted on Sunday to put himself in the driver’s seat. He bagged another birdie at the 15th.
“On 14, I hit it right again [after doing so in round three], got myself out of trouble and then made a nice, 15-foot birdie [putt],” he said. “That’s when I was really like, ‘You can win this tournament. Let’s go.'”
From there, Johnston held his nerve with three closing pars to etch his name onto a trophy that includes winners such as Rory McIlroy, Adam Scott, Greg Norman, Tom Watson and Jack Nicklaus.
“It’s really cool to be in a group with those guys,” he said. “I’m just pretty honoured to be able to put my name on it now, too. I’ll cherish this moment forever.”
Herbert stumbled with a 74 that left him T-5 at 12-under.
As for the last American to win the Australian Open, that was a guy called Jordan Spieth. He strode to six-shot win in 2014 and went on to win the Masters and US Open the next year. Spieth got the same bump when he defeated Cam Smith and Ash Hall in a playoff at Royal Sydney in 2016, winning the Open Championship eight months later.
Johnston doesn’t expect the same springboard. “I mean, my career is young,” he said. “I only turned pro in May. Jordan Spieth’s level is so good I have a long way to go. But hopefully this is a good start.”
At least he has a start at Royal Portrush in Northern Ireland next July to test that theory.
