After a pulsating final day at St Andrews, the American outsider Zach Johnson claimed the £1,000,000 Open Championship prize after a thrilling play-off with Louis Oosthuizen and Marc Leishman.

As Johnson picked up the Claret Jug, the adulation of the crowd and the thrill of claiming a second major, many of his opponents watched on with envy. At one point in Monday’s final round – delayed due to the high winds experienced on Saturday – 12 players were within one shot of the lead.

But as the pressure mounted during the final 18 holes, many contenders – including two-time major winner Jordan Spieth, Australian Jason Day and the Irish amateur Paul Dunne – fell by the wayside, leaving just Johnson, former Open winner Oosthuizen and Leishman in the mix.

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Putting is so important in major championships, and Phil Mickelson was on fire today as he stormed to a stunning comeback win in the British Open. He birdied four of the last sic holes and said in the interview above that it’s the best he’s ever putted.

Meanwhile Lee Westwood faded and Tiger Woods was good but not good enough again. Think about it – Tiger hasn’t won a major in 5 years! He used to be well ahead of the pace set by Jack Nicklaus but know the two are pretty close. Passing Jack is no longer an easy task for Woods. There are plenty of young golfers who have emerged in the sport, and Mickelson continues to be a force in the game as well.

Phil Michelson made a spectacular charge on the front nine, but Darren Clarke held him off to win his first major championship at the 140th Open Championship at Royal St Georges Golf club.

He doesn’t miss the cut often, so when he does, it’s news.

For the first time in three years and the second in a major championship as a pro, Tiger Woods will not compete on the weekend.

The world’s No. 1 player missed the cut Friday at the British Open, shooting a 4-over 74 at Turnberry that had him headed back home to Florida on the same day that 59-year-old Tom Watson tied for the 36-hole lead.

Woods holds the tour record of 142 consecutive cuts made, which he set from 1998 to 2005.

Tiger Woods is having a hell of a time at Turnberry the past couple days.

Woods, who shot a 71 in the opening round of the 2009 British Open on Thursday, is in danger of missing the cut after shooting a 74 in Round 2 on Friday. He is now five-over-par and is toeing the potential cut line to get into Round 3.

Tiger has missed only one cut in a major during his professional career, which came in the 2006 U.S. Open following the death of his father. Considering he opened play as a 9/4 favorite to win, Woods missing the opening cut would be a shocking development.

Outside of Tiger potentially missing the cut, the big story is that 59-year-old Tom Watson once again sits atop the leader board. Watson was one-stroke off of Miguel Jimenez entering play on Friday, but shot a 70 in Round 2 and is now tied with Steve Marino for first place with a score of 135.

The second round is still going on, but Mark Calcavecchia is currently one stroke behind Watson and Marino at 136, while Jimenez, Vijay Singh, Ross Fisher, Retief Goosen and Kenichi Kuboya are all tied at 137.

Update: Woods officially missed the cut at the British Open. It was only the second time he missed the cut at a major in his professional career.