American golfer Zach Johnson won the Open Championship yesterday in a 4-hole playoff over Louis Oosthuizen and Marc Leishman. FCA applauds the win and celebrates the fact that, as Johnson told USA Today, “I had some Scripture going in my head and I thank the Lord, I thank my friends, I thank my family. I’m just in awe right now.”

Johnson won the 144th Open Championship in St. Andrews, Scotland, when he edged Oosthuizen by a stroke after the South African missed a 12-foot birdie putt at the 18th hole. Leishman finished three shots back. The Open Championship, formerly known as the British Open, marks Johnson’s second major tournament title. His first came in 2007 at The Masters. 

"My Christian faith is very important to me."         -Zach Johnson

“It is especially heart-warming to all of us here at FCA when one of God’s own displays unfathomable athletic talent as Zach Johnson did, rising to the top of the field,” said FCA President and CEO Les Steckel. “We all rejoice in the fact that this win gave Zach, who loves Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savior, a platform to share his faith around the world. The language of the love of sports is universal, and we can impact lives for the Lord as Zach did through this amazing win at the Open Championship.”

As reported in the June/July 2010 issue of “FCA Magazine,” PGA Tour pro Zach Johnson is a self-proclaimed sports enthusiast. And, as a Christian, he readily admits that his favorite story is one where sports and Scripture collide: David versus Goliath. At the mere mention of the biblical battle, Johnson sees flashes of a small shepherd boy with a sling and stones overtaking a Philistine giant. Immediately he is inspired.

The fact that Johnson loves this story shouldn’t come as a surprise considering he was the sports edition of David when he won the Masters in 2007. On that career-defining day, just after he walked off the course, Johnson told a national television audience what the victory really meant.

“My Christian faith is very important to me,” he said. “It was very special to win the Masters Golf Tournament on Easter Sunday. I’m very blessed. I would like to thank God. I felt Jesus Christ with me on the golf course every step of the way.”

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