Libby's Johnston thrills area fans by making British Open cut

PORTRUSH, Northern Ireland — Ryggs Johnston, the Libby High product believed to be the first native Montanan playing in the men’s British Open, closed with another 74 Sunday at Royal Portrush. 

It was the third 74 for Johnston, who fired a 5-under 66 on Friday to climb to a tie for 17th in the standings. He finished 4-over for the tournament and in a five-way tie for 63rd; 70 golfers made it through the cut after Friday’s golf. Friday, Johnston notched seven birdies and thrilled his followers after making the cut to weekend action.

Johnston’s round included four bogeys and, on No. 18, one triple bogey. It also included birdies on Nos. 2, 7, 10 and (the par-3) 13th. Like Saturday, he shot 37 on both nines. 

The former Arizona State standout qualified for the Open with his win at the ISPS Handa Australian Open on Dec. 1. 

In just his second start on the European Tour, Johnston, then ranked No. 954 in the Official World Golf Rankings, stunned the field by winning the Australian Open. The event, co-sanctioned by both the European Tour and the PGA Tour of Australia, saw Johnston shoot a final-round 68 to beat former U.S. Amateur champion Curtis Luck by three strokes. 

The 25-year-old tied for 26th at the BMW International Open on July 6; he missed the cut at the Scottish Open, played with the week before the British Open. 

Johnston has been riding a wave of momentum since turning pro in 2024. After graduating from Arizona State University, where he played five years for the Sun Devils and helped lead them to the 2024 Pac-12 title, Johnston earned his way onto the PGA Tour Americas via PGA Tour University. 

He finished his collegiate career with All-Pac-12 honors in three different seasons and was named the Pac-12 Scholar-Athlete of the Year in 2023.

Johnston, following some R&R in Libby, will return to the DP Tour at the Nexo Championship Aug. 7-10 in Aberdeenshire, Scotland.