The Open Championship ended with groans from the crowds as Adam Scott bogeyed his last 4 holes to miss out on a playoff by one stroke. An ending that no one could have predicted, Scott was on cruise control with a four-shot lead with four holes to play and seemed in utter control. Scott’s nearest rival was the gentle giant, Ernie Els, who birdied the 10th, 12th and 14th to become Scott’s nearest rival. When Ernie left a birdie putt short on the reachable Par 4 16th, his race seemed to have been run, Scott could afford to bogey the 15th and 17th, the two closing holes that played into the wind and would finish with shots to spare.

Scott bogeyed the 15th but an unexpected three putt on the 16th meant that Els still had a chance. After the shock of the 16th, Scott composed himself and hit a sensational drive into the 17th fairway. Whilst waiting for the green, Scott heard the roars from the 18th green as Els birdied the final hole to get within one.

Scott’s lead had been slashed and Scott had to finish par – par to win. A loose second into the rough at 17 meant Scott had to par the last to make a playoff.

Scott chose a 3 wood from the tee, which will undoubtedly be analysed over and over again as it unnecessarily brought fairway traps into play. Sure enough, Scott found a fairway pot bunker, meaning his second would have to be hit out sideways. Scott failed to get up and down from some 150 yards and the Claret Jug was snatched from his grasp.

Els, who seemed more shocked than anyone, admitted he was hoping for a playoff at best, but instead was able to walk from the putting green as a four-time Major champion with his second Open title.
Els was the first to sympathise with Scott, saying he would be back to win majors in the future. However, winning tournaments for the pair in the future may not be as easy, due to the putters they use.

The “belly” putter has relit Els’ career and Scott was in the doldrums until picking up the broom handle at the beginning of last year. Els, joins Keagan Bradley and Webb Simpson as recent Major winners who all anchor their putters. Peter Dawson from the R & A says that the issue “is firmly on the radar” but states there has been no final decision on the issue.