MELBOURNE, Australia — An Australian Open on its world-renowned Melbourne Sandbelt region was not meant to have a Hollywood element. The 120-year-old championship being played across Kingston Heath and Victoria Golf Club was supposed to be as Aussie as the Aussie Open gets. Yet on a rainy Sunday, there was Ryggs Johnston, a rookie pro from Libby, Mont., whose father named him after Mel Gibson’s character in “Lethal Weapon,” clutching the Stonehaven Cup after a three-shot victory over Western Australian Curtis Luck, a former amateur World No. 1.
“It hasn’t quite sunk in yet, but it’s an amazing feeling,” Johnston said. The DP World Tour co-sanctioned event was also a mixed format with the Women’s Australian Open. Former world No.1 Jiyai Shin grabbed her second career Australian Open title by defeating the champion in 2022 and 2023, Ash Buhai, by two shots.
Indeed, it would be difficult, even for Johnston, to fathom how he won. He never played a practice round before the tournament because of weather and then his final-round 68 gave him an 18-under-par 269 to earn $200,000. Luck (68), a Korn Ferry Tour winner, made two closing bogeys and finished second at 15 under. Marc Leishman (69) tied for third at 14 under with former Asia-Pacific Amateur champion, Jasper Stubbs (70). Lucas Herbert, as well as defending champion Joaquin Niemann and Thailand’s Kiradech Aphibarnrat, were among a group tied for fifth at 12 under.
Johnston, 24, had started the final day co-leading with Australian LIV golfer, Herbert, but drained an eagle putt from off the green at the par-5 first. He added another birdie at the third to start a wild run that included three bogeys and another birdie on the front nine. A birdie at the 10th was followed by the championship moment at the par-5 14th. A day after a double-bogey 7 there, Johnston again blocked his drive into vegatation but this time hacked out, then made then green and poured in a 15-foot birdie.
Difficult putt? Not for Ryggs Johnston 👏
An eagle on the opening hole puts Ryggs in the lead 👀#AusOpenGolf pic.twitter.com/krH6J9115c
— DP World Tour (@DPWorldTour) December 1, 2024
“That’s when I was really like, ‘You can win this tournament. Let’s go,'” Johnston said. He made another birdie at the 15th and three closing pars.
Johnston’s maiden professional win moved his world ranking more than 600 spots to No. 316. More importantly, it came with a bonus: he secured one of three starts at the 153rd Open Championship at Royal Portrush next summer. Luck and Leishman, who tied second at the Open at St. Andrews in 2015, grabbed the other two.
“I’m very excited to get back to Portrush; I really liked the course (in 2019) and I want to enjoy everything Northern Ireland has to offer,” Leishman said, joking about the Guinness.
WATCH: Aussie pro makes record putt from ridiculous length
When Johnston met with the media a lot was learned about the unheralded Arizona State alum. Firstly, he was named after Martin Ryggs from “Lethal Weapon.”
“My dad’s side of the family has a bunch of ‘R’ names … so they came up with Ryggs,” he said. On Saturday night, before sleeping on the lead, he channeled more Hollywood by watching “Gladiator II” in his hotel room.
He also became a DP World Tour member by recommendation. After he left the Sun Devils and turned pro in May, ASU golf coach Matt Thurmond recommend he try DP World Tour qualifying school in Spain. He got this run started with last week’s Australian PGA (T-43).
“I pretty much came to Australia fresh off Q School; I flew back to the States for less than a day and then flew out here,” he said. “I didn’t really expect to come out here and win.”
I couldn’t hold my excitement in. Ryggs Johnston just won the Australian Open on the @DPWorldTour and I’m fired up!!! Huge win for Ryggs, @sundevilmgolf and all who have supported him. Ryggs has been a very special person in our program for several years now. Congrats Ryggs!! pic.twitter.com/HTUmoLbkw5
— Matt Thurmond (@MattThurmond) December 1, 2024
His expectations were a little different from the last American to win the Australian Open, which was Jordan Spieth, who triumphed in 2014 and 2016.
“My career is young; I only turned pro in May,” he said. “Jordan Spieth’s level is so good I have a long way to go. But hopefully this is a good start.”
Spieth’s was one of several names that caught Johnston’s eye looking at the Australian Open trophy. Rory McIlroy, Adam Scott, Tom Watson and Jack Nicklaus were some of the others. None of them—great as they were, or are—were named after a Hollywood action movie.
“It’s just really cool to be in that group,” Johnston said. “I’m just pretty honored to be able to put my name on it now, too, and I’ll cherish this moment forever.”
This article was originally published on golfdigest.com
