Ryggs Johnston won on his second DP World Tour start as he captured the ISPS HANDA Australian Open in impressive fashion.
Related: Birdie man Johnston’s surge hands him joint lead in Oz
The 24-year-old American, who revealed this week he is named after the Mel Gibson character from the Lethal Weapon movies, carded a closing 68 at Kingston Heath to finish on 18 under par.
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That secured a three-shot victory over home favourite Curtis Luck and completed a remarkable rise for the Montana native, who turned professional earlier this year and came through Qualifying School, before finishing tied 42nd on his DP World Tour debut last week.
His impressive performance on the famed Sandbelt also secures a Major debut at The Open next summer.
Johnston began the day in a share of the lead with Lucas Herbert but quickly took control of proceedings with an eagle from the fringe at the opening hole. Luck, who started the day three back, fired his second to three feet at the sixth as he raced to the turn in 33.
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Johnston birdied the third but had three bogeys, as well as another gain from 15 feet at the eighth, as he recorded an outward 35. Luck’s birdie at the tenth meant he joined Herbert and Johnston on 15 under as the final group turned for home.
Herbert’s challenge faded with three bogeys on the way in but Johnston seized the initiative again with a wedge to six feet to set up a birdie at the tenth. Luck responded with a 30-foot birdie at the 13th to join Johnston on 16 under and a gain on the 14th briefly gave him the outright lead.
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However, Johnston made a birdie of his own at the 14th and Luck paid for wayward tee shots at the last two holes with bogeys. Johnston made a spectacular birdie from 30 feet on the 15th and avoided trouble over the closing holes.
Luck’s 68 gave him one of three Open places on offer, with he and Johnston set to be joined by Marc Leishman at Royal Portrush.
Leishman finished tied for third with Jasper Stubbs at 14 under par, but secured the final Open berth by virtue of his higher placing on the Official World Golf Ranking.
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Herbert and last week’s winner Elvis Smylie were amongst a group of six players in a tie for fifth at 12 under.
This week’s event incorporates three tournaments – the men’s and women’s Australian Opens and the Australian All Abilities Championship.
Jiyai Shin got to 17 under par to record a two-shot win over defending champion Ashleigh Buhai, making it two winners from Korea after Simon Seungmin Lee secured the Australian All Abilities Championship title on his G4D Tour debut on Saturday
Player Quotes
Ryggs Johnston: To be honest probably not (expecting the win). I turned up pretty tired from all the travel and Q-School and everything. Didn’t get a practice round here with the weather. I didn’t really have any expectations which probably helped me in the end.
It was definitely a little stressful. The weather was kind of up and down. It was really nice for 15 minutes and really bad for 15 minutes and I knew I was right in it and just had to come about towards the end.
And then when I walked up to 17 green, I finally saw the leaderboard and saw I had a three shot lead and then I could take a little bit of a breath and just say, I just need to hit a couple more good shots and I’ll be done.
It feels great, just knowing that more playing opportunities and getting into bigger events. It hasn’t quite sunk in yet but it’s an amazing feeling.
I’ve got a lot of messages from friends back home saying the whole town is watching. It’s just really cool to have that kind of support and the sort of thing you don’t see much other than small towns like I’m from.
Arizona State prepared me for this kind of moment. The team around me, the coaches have helped. The coach was one of the reasons I decided to play Q-School for this tour but everyone around me, my family and friends, girlfriend. My girlfriend’s dad caddied for me this week just helping out, they’ve been all so supportive and I’m just so lucky.
It’s great, I’ve heard the Australians love this place and they turned out, the crowds were big and they were so supportive – it was a lot of fun.
