Cedar Rapids native Zach Johnson made a clutch birdie on the 72nd hole, then outlasted two golfers to win a four-hole playoff Monday at the 144th British Open at St. Andrews.

The win was Johnson's 12th PGA Tour title, including two major championships. He won the 2007 Masters.

"I want to thank all my family and friends back home," Johnson told the crowd as he accepted the Claret Jug. "I'm honored to be your champion. Thank you very much."

Johnson, 39, fired a final-round six-under-par 66 on Monday, coming from three shots behind at the start of the day to earn a spot in the playoff with Louis Oosthuizen and Marc Leishman.

Johnson drained a 20-foot birdie putt on his final hole, then had to wait almost 90 minutes for the playoff. Leishman held the lead, but fell back into a tie while Oosthuizen birdied 18 to join the playoff, which was a four-hole, best total score affair.

Both Johnson and Oosthuizen birdied No. 1, the first playoff hole, while Leishman had a double-bogey. Johnson took the lead for good with a birdie on No. 2.

All three players posted a bogey on 17. Johnson parred the 18th hole, the final one of the playoff. Oosthuizen had a chance to force the playoff to a fifth hole, but his 10-foot birdie putt just slid by the hole.

Johnson earned $1.8 million for his victory.