Zach Johnson beguiled by history and ‘purity’ of The Open

Zach Johnson did not need to win The Open Championship to fall in love with it but lifting the Claret Jug a year ago helped him to really understand the significance of golf’s oldest tournament.

The 40-year-old American took membership of an exclusive club 12 months ago when he joined Sam Snead, Jack Nicklaus, Nick Faldo, Seve Ballesteros, and Tiger Woods as the only golfers to have won majors at both St Andrews and Augusta National.

While the Green Jacket of a Masters champion is his for life, possession of the Claret Jug lasts just 12 months, but for a golfer who respects the game’s history as much as Johnson clearly does, his time with one of sport’s oldest and most iconic trophies were moments to cherish.