Spieth’s Slam bid ends as Open goes into playoff

ST ANDREWS: Jordan Spieth’s quest for a golfing Grand Slam came to an end as American Zach Johnson, Australian Marc Leishman and South African Louis Oosthuizen will contest a four-hole playoff to decide the British Open after they all finished on 15-under 273 on Monday.

After a nerve-jangling final afternoon at the weather-hit major, Leishman had a 20-foot birdie putt to win his first ‘Big Four’ event at the 18th but his attempt narrowly missed and he signed for a sixunder 66.

Johnson had already finished, having sunk a long birdie putt on the 18th for his 66.

Oosthuizen, the winner at St Andrews in 2010, saved par superbly at the 17th before coolly holing a four-foot birdie putt on the 18th.

The playoff, which will be decided on aggregate scores, will go down the first, second, 17th and 18th holes.

It is only the second Monday finish in the tournament’s history after heavy rain and high winds caused havoc earlier in the championship.

Spieth shot a three-under 69 that left him one stroke out of the playoff. He won the Masters and the US Open, giving him a chance to join Ben Hogan as the only golfers to win the first three Majors of the year.

No one has ever won all four.