Ernie Els has pulled off an incredible come from behind victory to win the Open Championship in Lancashire, England this morning (July 22, local time).
With Adam Scott entering the final round with a handy four stroke advantage, many commentators were suggesting that it would take something remarkable to prevent the Australian from securing his first Major title.
In the end, Scott largely proved to be his own undoing, coming apart on the back nine with four consecutive bogeys on the last four holes.
Els, who had previously stormed home with birdies on the tenth, 12th, 14th and 18th, watched on from the clubhouse as Scott dropped stroke after stroke to hand the 42-year-old South African his first Major in ten years.
It was a remarkable end to a compelling tournament, one which left Scott fighting to hold back tears.
"First of all, I feel for Adam Scott," Els told reporters after the tournament.
"Obviously, we both wanted to win very badly. But you know, that's the nature of the beast. That's why we're out here. You win, you lose. It was my time for some reason."
Scott wasn't the only player to feel the sting of Royal Lytham & St Annes, earlier in the day Tiger Woods saw his title contention hopes vanish in a puff of sand after getting trapped in a bunker on the sixth and making a triple bogey.
Woods finished in a tie for third alongside Brandt Snedeker, who also struggled in blustery conditions - back to back double bogeys on the seventh and eighth holes putting him out of the running.
Woods and Snedeker finished on three under for the tournament, four strokes behind Els (seven under) and three strokes behind Scott, who was gracious in defeat.
"I had it in my hands with four to go ... I managed to hit a poor shot on each of the closing four holes. Look, I played so beautifully for most of the week. I shouldn't let this bring me down," Scott said.
"But next time, I'm sure there will be a next time, and I can do a better job of it."
Graeme McDowell and Luke Donald finished in fifth with two under for the tournament, the former also having a rough go of it on the final day, making seven bogeys and finishing five over for the round.
Geoff Ogilvy, the last Australian to win a Major after taking out the US Open in 2006, saved his best for last, a three under round of 67 pushing him into a tie for ninth.
