During the Thanksgiving week, two American golfers made headlines by showcasing impressive performances across the globe. One of these athletes was Peter Uihlein, a former U.S. Amateur champion, who clinched victory by five strokes at the Asian Tour in Qatar. The second standout was Ryggs Johnston, who won the Australian Open, bringing attention to his roots in Libby, Montana, a small town with about 3,725 residents. Interestingly, Johnston was named after Mel Gibson’s character from the iconic film “Lethal Weapon.”
Jeff Dooley, the head professional at Cabinet View Golf Club, humorously proclaimed Johnston as the best golfer to emerge from Montana without a doubt. Dooley, who has closely followed Johnston’s progression, recognized the extraordinary talent and skill evident in his gameplay. He had long anticipated the moment when Johnston would be watched on a tournament broadcast, a realization that kept him awake late into the night when Johnston triumphed at Kingston Heath. “There was an enormous texting frenzy among the golf professionals throughout Montana,” remarked Dooley, highlighting the excitement surrounding Johnston’s success.
At just 24, Johnston may stake a claim as the top golfer in Montana, notably overshadowing Mike Grob, who previously made a name for himself with six victories on the Canadian Tour and a stint on the PGA Tour. Just five months into his professional journey and only his second start as a European Tour member, Johnston’s name now graces the Stonehaven Cup, a recognition he shares with golf legends such as Jack Nicklaus, Arnold Palmer, and more contemporary figures like Jordan Spieth and Rory McIlroy.
The Australian Open was also a point of pride for Matt Thurmond, the coach at Arizona State University, who had pursued Johnston as a potential recruit during his time at Washington. However, Johnston’s aspirations were made clear during a class project in sixth grade, where he expressed his dream of attending ASU and playing golf. After Thurmond moved to ASU in 2016, recruiting Johnston became a much easier task.
Though Johnston did not secure any tournament wins in college, he consistently made the starting lineup, finishing third at the NCAA Championship during his sophomore year in 2021 and achieving four consecutive top-10 finishes in his final season. His collegiate journey extended over five years due to the COVID-19 pandemic, during which he also focused on academics, becoming the Pac-12 scholar-athlete of the year and coming close to earning a Master’s degree from ASU’s Thunderbird School of Global Management.
Ranked 17th in the PGA Tour University standings, Johnston earned himself exemption into the Canadian section of the PGA Tour Americas and advanced directly to the second stage of PGA Tour qualifying. However, he decided to pursue all three stages of the European Tour qualifying school as well, a choice that brought both surprise and amusement to Thurmond: “He always said, ‘I’m a U.S. guy,'” Thurmond recounted, illustrating Johnston’s gradual openness to international opportunities.
Johnston impressively passed the first stage in France with a comfortable margin and, after a strong performance in Spain, secured his European Tour card by breezing through the final stage. His first European Tour event took place in Australia at the Australian PGA, where he tied for 43rd in a rain-affected tournament. Soon after, he traveled to Melbourne for the prestigious Australian Open, despite feeling fatigued after playing ten out of twelve weeks in Canada and participating in the rigors of Q-school.
“I didn’t have any expectations,” Johnston admitted, suggesting that this mindset may have played to his advantage. He credits Thurmond’s encouragement for allowing him to consider European tour qualifying as a path worthwhile. The transition ultimately led him to a spot at the Nedbank Challenge in South Africa, competing against notable players like Max Homa, Will Zalatoris, and Corey Conners.
Looking ahead, Johnston’s success has positioned him for exciting tournaments, including the Dubai Desert Classic featuring golf stars such as Rory McIlroy and Jon Rahm. His Australian Open victory guarantees him a place in the British Open at Royal Portrush, marking potentially his first major appearance. “He has come a very long way,” Thurmond reflected, marveling at Johnston’s rapid ascent to success.
Before the year draws to a close, Johnston is also set for a triumphant return to Libby, Montana, where the community is planning a homecoming celebration for their local champion. “I’ve received numerous messages from friends saying the whole town is cheering me on,” Johnston expressed with gratitude. “It’s a wonderful feeling to have that level of support, which is rare to see other than in small towns.”
