Monday 20 July 2015 21:29, UK
Former Masters champion Adam Scott relived his Open nightmare from three years ago after collapsing over the final five holes at St Andrews.
The Australian was tied for the lead at the 144th Open midway through the back nine during the final round, but bogeyed the 614-yard 14th and then missed from a foot for par at the next.
He compounded matters by bogeying the 17th and then hitting his drive at the last out of bounds for a double-bogey six to produce a finish reminiscent of his 2012 capitulation. He completed the back nine in 40 shots.
In 2012 he reached the 14th with a four-shot lead, but bogeyed his last four holes to hand the Claret Jug to Ernie Els.
"It's hard to digest it all at the moment," said the visibly shocked 34-year-old, who broke his major drought by winning the green jacket in 2013.
"I probably needed a really good back nine and I had a really poor back nine. I feel like I wasn't even in it at that moment.
"Fourteen was my poorest shot I hit today and it cost me a bogey. That wasn't the end of the world but to miss a really short putt on the next, I don't really have an explanation for that.
"I just went up to tap it in from a foot and it lipped out. It is just one of those stupid things that happens and that really put me in a tough position to where finishing with a handful of threes was unlikely on a day like today.
"I'm disappointed the way I played the last five holes for sure. I could have done a lot better than that.
"It's a shame not to get in there and finish with a shot (at winning) but maybe it was too much to ask."
