Riggs-Johnston arrived in the Sandbelt region with no expectations.
After all, he is currently the No. 953 ranked player in the world and six months away from graduating from college. arizona. But he can play. Johnston finished eighth at the DP World Tour Q School earlier this month, earning him a spot on the circuit formerly known as the European Tour in 2025.
He tied for 43rd in his first DP World Tour start at the BMW Australian PGA Championship last week, not bad for a first start. But no one could have predicted that Johnston would be competing at the Australian Open this week, making his second career start on the DP World Tour. Even Johnston didn't have much faith in himself, especially since the 24-year-old American missed practice rounds at Kingston Heath due to Melbourne's weather. He went into this tournament completely blind.
still, Johnston won the Australian Open He beat Aussie Curtis Luck by three strokes, a great result for the young American. He shot two 4-under 68s over the weekend, putting him at the top of the leaderboard with a total of 18 under.
“Just knowing that makes me feel so good.” [I get] more playing opportunities and [I get] Participate in bigger events,” Johnston said.
“It hasn’t fully sunk in yet, but it feels great.”
Johnston became the 11th American to win the Stonehaven Cup, the famous trophy awarded to the winner of the Australian Open. And it's a trophy with dozens of famous names engraved on it. Arnold Palmer, Jack Nicklaus, Tom Watson, Jordan Spieth — these players not only won multiple majors, they also won the Australian Open. The tournament has such a rich history that Nicklaus once called it “the fifth major.”
“It's really cool to be in a group with those guys,” Johnston added.
“I am so honored to be able to put my name on it now. I will cherish this moment forever.”
Johnston has been traveling around the world in recent weeks, which makes his win even more impressive. He returned to the US from Q-School in Spain in less than a day and then went to Australia for these two events.
“Honestly, I was just trying to use the last tournament as kind of a warm-up and hopefully play better this tournament, and it kind of felt like that,” Johnston said. Ta.
“But as far as winning, I probably didn't really expect to come out here and win. I just wanted to come out here and play some good golf and I just happened to be in a good position today. ”
Jack Mirko is a golf staff writer for SB Nation's Playing Through. Be sure to check it out @_PlayingThrough Cover more golf. You can follow him on Twitter @jack_milko In the same way.
