Ryggs Johnston Wins Australian Open
by Ty Sparing, MSGA Communications Coordinator

Fresh off a thrilling run through three grueling stages of the DP World Tour Qualifying School in which Ryggs Johnston fought tooth and nail for one of 20 coveted tour cards for 2025, he found himself Down Under in Australia for his first bit of action as a pro. Many of us thought the excitement might die down for a bit as he gets acquainted with his new status as a European Tour golfer. That was not to be, however, as Johnston decided to go ahead and win the Australian Open, in just his second tournament as a pro.
Johnston, a native of Libby, Mont. (population: 2,700), having earned the tour card in early November, was in Brisbane, Australia for the Australian PGA Championship. Playing at the Royal Queensland Golf Club, the former Arizona State golfer finished in a tie for 43rd place with a four-round score of -3 (210). With winnings nearing $8,000, it was a solid first tournament for the new pro.
Just a week later Johnston shocked the golfing world with a first-place finish at the Australian Open. He is just the third American in the last 31 years to win the event, with the last time being in 2016 when it was Jordan Spieth who came out on top.
Held at both the Kingston Heath Golf Club and Victoria Golf Club in Melbourne, a blistering first round of -7 (65) put Johnston in the top tier of the leaderboard, where he would sit throughout the entirety of the event. At one point he tallied five birdies in a row (holes 12-16), with eight total that first day.

Seemingly without nerves and playing with confidence, Johnston didn’t let up the rest of the way as he posted a -5 (68) in each of his final three rounds, which staved off the competition enough for a three-stroke victory. Australian favorite Curtis Luck made a run during the third round, getting to within three strokes of the leader Johnston, but the Montana native started the final round with an eagle on the first hole, and that proved to be more than enough cushion the rest of the way.
In victory the 24-year-old Johnston was awarded the Stonehaven Cup, which bears the names of greatness: Nicklaus, Palmer, Player, Norman, Watson, Sarazen, McIIroy, and Spieth, just to name a few. Along with etching his name into golf history, Johnston saw his world ranking go from 954th in the world to 316th, he qualified for the 153rd British Open later this year, and earned roughly $245,000 for his efforts.
With a little break in the action during the DP World Tour schedule, Johnston flew back to Montana for a spell, hitting simulator shots and staying ready to get back out on tour. There was even a parade held in Libby to celebrate the hometown hero’s victory at the Australian Open, with Johnston riding on top of a fire truck. It’s a proud community that has watched Johnston develop from a prodigious young talent into an All-American at Arizona State, and now a DP World Tour professional with a big win already under his belt and more momentous occasions like the British Open still yet in his future. Naturally, the parade route started and ended at Cabinet View Golf Club in Libby, Johnston’s home course.
(This article first appeared in the December 15, 2024, Montana State Golf Association newsletter. Used here by permission.)