Libby’s Ryggs Johnston set to compete in the Open

One of Libby’s own is about to tee off on one of golf’s biggest stages.

Ryggs Johnston, a 25-year-old professional golfer and native of Libby, will compete in The Open in the United Kingdom this weekend, joining a prestigious field at one of the sport’s four major championships. It marks a major milestone for the former Libby Logger and Arizona State standout, who has quickly made a name for himself on the global golf stage.

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.

But it was his breakout win in December 2024 that truly announced his arrival to the professional world.

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 ISPS Handa Australian Open. The event, co-sanctioned by both the European Tour and the PGA Tour of Australasia, saw Johnston shoot a final-round 68 to beat former U.S. Amateur champion Curtis Luck by three strokes. 

Now, the young Montanan will face the game’s best on the hallowed links of Royal Portrush in Northern Ireland, where this year’s Open will be held.

The 153rd Open Championship returns to Royal Portrush in Northern Ireland from July 17–20, marking just the third time the tournament has been held outside England or Scotland in its long history. 

Set along the dramatic Atlantic coastline, the Dunluce Links course is a 7,381-yard par-71 masterpiece known for its challenging dunes, shifting winds and demanding fairways. 

With past champions like Max Faulkner (1951) and Shane Lowry (2019), Royal Portrush has become a site of historic significance and national pride, especially for Irish fans.

This year’s Open is expected to draw nearly 300,000 spectators and a global TV audience of nearly half a billion, further boosted by Rory McIlroy’s recent Masters win and renewed focus on Northern Ireland. 

The 156-player field includes top names like McIlroy, Scottie Scheffler, defending champ Xander Schauffele and 19 players from LIV Golf. The course's classic links layout—with blind approaches and unpredictable coastal winds—promises a stern test, while NBC, Peacock, Sky Sports, and R&A’s digital platforms will offer comprehensive coverage for interested Libby fans.