The 5 shots that determined the 2015 British Open

The British Open took five days. A field of 156 started, reducing to 80 and finishing with a case of the Mondays.

In the end, Zach Johnson won his second major title, a little over eight years after he weathered a frigid, testy Augusta National to win the Masters. The shots that truly define that victory, however, aren’t all his. So we look fondly back on a compelling and dramatic Open at St. Andrews, identifying the five shots that defined the championship.

5. Jordan Spieth’s bogey miss on the eighth hole in the final round: Spieth found himself in poor position off the tee, some 100 feet from home with a flatstick in his hand. It’s ridiculous to expect a two-putt from Spieth in the situation, but putting it off the green with the first effort set up another three putts that were the difference between being in the playoff and wondering what could have been.

4. Jordan Spieth’s bogey on the 71st hole of the championship: The Road Hole was practically playing as a par 5 all week, so a bogey was an average score. However, Spieth hit his 60-yard third shot within his wheelhouse for a chance to make a par. When that putt slid by, Spieth was forced to come up with birdie to get into overtime.

3. Zach Johnson’s birdie on the 72nd hole to post 15-under par: As soon as Johnson went long with his approach to the final hole and it didn’t come back, it seemed his fate had been sealed to post 14 under par. Then, somehow, Johnson found the range and drained the putt, sending caddie Damon Green into a bird dance of ecstasy. The rest is history.

2. Louis Oosthuizen’s par putt on the 17th hole, the third of the four-hole playoff: Johnson had built a one-shot edge going into the third playoff hole, the Road Hole, which Johnson had played 3-over par in the four championship rounds. Johnson again made bogey on the 17th, while Oosthuizen was a two-putt away from a tie ballgame heading to the final playoff hole. But Oosthuizen three-putted, allowing Johnson to play strategically long on the 18th hole and put the pressure on the 2010 Open winner to make a tying birdie. He didn’t.

1. Oosthuizen’s missed birdie putt on the final playoff hole: After the win, Johnson said he hates to see tournaments end on missed putts, as Oosthuizen’s 10-footer for birdie would have extended the playoff only to have it lip out. But Johnson should have given himself credit for a well-played playoff. He got out of the gate hot and held on to win the Claret Jug.

Ryan Ballengee is a Yahoo Sports contributor. Find him on Facebook and Twitter.

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