ST. ANDREWS, Scotland -- I'm so out of breath watching that finish, I've had three coffees and a Mountain Dew. Trying to type with the shakes while jumping at any sudden movement or noise makes these grades a challenge, to say the least. But like Marc Leishman's putt on 18 in the playoff, you gotta finish what you start. The final-round grades for the top nine golfers are just that, grades on today's performance. Enjoy.
Rory McIlroy
Grade: N/A
World ranking: No. 1
Score: N/A
McIlroy injured his ankle playing soccer with friends and is missing The Open. Hopefully we'll see him at the PGA Championship.
Grade: C+
World ranking: No. 2
Score: 67-72-66-69 (-14)
So close to history, but when it comes down to it, he couldn't pull off the two most important iron shots he had to hit (the second shots on 17 and 18). It's admirable to put yourself in position in crunch time, but, when history knocked, the door went unanswered. I'm sure the next time, that call will be answered by Spieth.
Grade: C
World ranking: No. 3
Score: 71-76 (+3) Missed cut
He didn't do anything wrong. He didn't do anything right. Let's be honest, he didn't do anything at all.
Grade: F
World ranking: No. 4
Score: 65-69-75-75 (-4)
There were four rounds of 66 shot on the final day. If Johnson had shot one of them, he could have finished alone in fifth and 2 shots out of a playoff. Instead, five bogeys and a double later, he's leaving in the bottom half of the field. One of these days, Dustin, you'll learn, and hopefully this fail will get you that much closer.
Grade: D
World ranking: No. 5
Score: 70-71-66-73 (-6)
Fowler had his worst day hitting fairways (10 of 16), and, even though he hit 15 greens, 35 putts would bring him close to failure. Maybe this is the "sophomore slump" season for majors after how great he was last year in them even without a win.
Grade: D+
World ranking: No. 6
Score: 73-71-66-72 (-6)
On a day when conditions were challenging, Furyk found a way to grind out an even-par round. So why does he get this grade? Because he was below average in every category compared with the field (fairways and greens hit). That much pressure on the putter was going to be too much.
Grade: B-
World ranking: No. 7
Score: 73-70-71-69 (-5)
Stenson matched his high in fairways (13 of 16) and had his best day hitting greens (17 of 18). His putter was a letdown with two three-putts and 34 putts total. For a day when he could only play for himself, his effort deserves this grade.
Grade: C-
World ranking: No. 8
Score: 71-68-68-70 (-11)
Just think, if Rose could have shot one of the four rounds of 66, he'd have been in the playoff. Instead, he had his worst ballstriking day of the Open, hitting only 10 fairways and 12 greens. He should have easily been over par, but his putter saved him.
Grade: B-
World ranking: No. 9
Score: 66-71-67-70 (-14)
Trying to win your first major is so much harder than people understand. Trying to do it playing head-to-head with the guy who won the first two majors of the year made Day's job almost impossible. Yet with all that, he managed to stay bogey-free and even had a chance on the last hole to get into a playoff. Everyone should be proud of that round and not disappointed.
Grade: C-
World ranking: No. 10
Score: 70-69-68-70 (-11)
For 10 holes, it looked as if Garcia was going to touch the immortality that has eluded him for his professional career. Nine of 10 greens hit and 15 putts put Sergio 1 shot back of the lead standing on the par-3 11th tee. He missed the green, saved par, then it all crashed. This is where the teacher sighs while putting the minus on the paper being graded.
The amateurs
Grade: A+
World ranking: N/A
Score: Made cut combined: -47
Can you believe five amateurs made the cut and one even had the 54-hole lead? For those of you wondering what the future of U.S. golf looks like, I say sit back and relax. The two highest amateur finishers were Americans, with Jordan Niebrugge taking silver-medal honors and Oliver Schniederjans tying with England's Ashley Chesters at 2 shots back. Don't feel too bad for Paul Dunne, he opened a lot of eyes and should be getting plenty of sponsor invitations to tournaments in the near future.
The Old Course
Grade: A+
World ranking: N/A
Score: N/A
She gave us everything we could ask for in a major. A day she likes you, a day she scorns you, a day she ain't home, a day she makes you cry and a day you fall in love with her all over again. After watching this championship played out over these five days, is there anyone among you who could come here, stand on the first tee and not ask her to dance? That's why score doesn't matter here. The emotional ride this course and Mother Nature take you on, even while watching at home, is what stays with you. She delivered again, as usual. This was my first time being here at St. Andrews. It was even better than I dreamed -- or maybe the coffee and Mountain Dew are finally wearing off.
Grade: F
World ranking: No. 41
Score: 67-72-69-79 (-1)
I know Louis Oosthuizen is his best buddy, but it sure looked as if Schwartzel was more focused on his friend than on his own task. The South African had the worst score of the final round (79), one that included six bogeys and a double and only one birdie. The worst part was he started the day at 8 under, 1 shot behind eventual winner Johnson. Schwartzel's T-68th-place check will have a few fewer zeros than the winner's.